• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.2_spc
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• pp.360-369
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• 2024

Ruminal methane production functions as the main sink for metabolic hydrogen generated through rumen fermentation and is recognized as a considerable source of greenhouse gas emissions. Methane production is a complex trait affected by dry matter intake, feed composition, rumen microbiota and their fermentation, lactation stage, host genetics, and environmental factors. Various mitigation approaches have been proposed. Because individual ruminants exhibit different methane conversion efficiencies, the microbial characteristics of low-methane-emitting animals can be essential for successful rumen manipulation and environment-friendly methane mitigation. Several bacterial species, including Sharpea, uncharacterized Succinivibrionaceae, and certain Prevotella phylotypes have been listed as key players in low-methane-emitting sheep and cows. The functional characteristics of the unclassified bacteria remain unclear, as they are yet to be cultured. Here, we review ruminal methane production and mitigation strategies, focusing on rumen fermentation and the functional role of rumen microbiota, and describe the phylogenetic and physiological characteristics of a novel Prevotella species recently isolated from low methane-emitting and high propionate-producing cows. This review may help to provide a better understanding of the ruminal digestion process and rumen function to identify holistic and environmentally friendly methane mitigation approaches for sustainable ruminant production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1761-1768
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• 2006

In this study, the comparative effects of transgenic corn (Mon 810 and Event 176) and isogenic corn (DK729) were investigated for their influence on in vitro rumen fermentation. This study consisted of three treatments with 0.25 g rice straw, 0.25 g of corn (Mon810/Event176/DK 729) mixed with 30 ml rumen fluid-basal medium in a serum bottle. They were prepared in oxygen free conditions and incubated at $39^{\circ}C$ in a shaking incubator. The influence of transgenic corn on the number of bacterial population, F. succinogenes (cellulolytic) and S. bovis (amylolytic), was quantified using RT-PCR. Fermentative parameters were measured at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h and substrate digestibility was measured at 12 and 24 h. No significant differences were observed in digestibility of dry matter, NDF, ADF at 12 and 24 h for both transgenic and isogenic form of corns (p>0.05) as well as in fermentative parameters. Fluid pH remained unaffected by hybrid trait and decreased with VFA accumulation as incubation time progressed. No influence of corn trait itself was seen on concentration of total VFA, acetic, propionic, butyric and valeric acids. There were no significant differences (p<0.05) in total gas production, composition of gas (methane and hydrogen) at all times of sampling, as well as in NH3-N production. Bacterial quantification using RT-PCR showed that the population number was not affected by transgenic corn. From this study it is concluded that transgenic corn (Mon810 and Event 176) had no adverse effects on rumen fermentation and digestibility compared to isogenic corn. However, regular monitoring of these transgenic feeds is needed by present day researchers to enable consumers with the option to select their preferred food source for animal or human consumption.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.558-565
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• 2017

This study was conducted to determine the effect of inoculation of microorganism isolated from pig feces on nutrient contents of fermented hulless barley. The microbial flora in feces of a total of four crossbred piglets ($Landrace{\times}Yorkshire{\times}Duroc$) was analyzed by 16s rRNA sequencing. The most abundant strain was then selected for fermentation of hulless barley. Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) was dominant (64.56%) in intestinal microbial flora in the pig feces. The selected candidate strain showed significantly higher survival rate at pH 7 than at pH 2.5 and 3.0 (p < 0.05). Incubated culture containing the candidate strain showed an increased growth rate with lower pH levels after 7.5 h incubation compared to initial incubation period (p < 0.05). When compared with commercial multiple probiotics which were used as control, the selected strain showed faster growth rate at 5 h post-incubation (p < 0.05). During the fermentation period, neither inoculated nor non-inoculated control hulless barley showed any change in pH value. Crude fat, fiber and ash contents were lower (p < 0.05) in hulless barley inoculated by the selected strain compared to control. However, moisture, energy, NDF and ADF were not affected by the inoculation of strain or fermentation period. Lactic acid was increased and acetic acid was decreased in the hulless barley inoculated with the selected strain during the fermentation period (p < 0.05). Taken together, our results suggest that L. plantarum derived from the pigs could be utilized as a new microorganism for manufacturing fermented feed stuffs.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2009

This study was conducted to measure tea surface colors using the visible bands ($400{\sim}700$ nm) with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). The surface colors of 117 tea products were measured with a colorimeter. The $a^*/b^*$ (CIE color scale) or a/b (Hunter color scale) ratios in different tea products accounted for about 99.7% of the variation in fermentation degree (FD), indicating that the $a^*/b^*$ (a/b) ratio is a very useful trait for assessing fermentation degree. Also tea powders were scanned in the visible bands used with NIRS. Calibration equations for surface colors and fermentation degree were developed using the regression method of modified partial least-squares (MPLS) with internal cross validation. The equations had low SECV (standard errors of cross-validation), and high $R^2$ (coefficient of determination in calibration) values with $0.779{\sim}0.999$, indicating that the whole bands ($400{\sim}2500\;nm$) with NIRS could be used to rapidly measure traits related to surface color, fermentation degree and other chemical components in tea products with high precision and ease at a time.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.386-392
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• 2010

This study was done to measure the color and catechins contents in processed teas using the whole bands (400~2500 nm) with near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS). The powder colors of 109 processed teas were measured with a colorimeter. The a/b ratios in Hunter color scale in processed teas accounted for about 98.9% of the variation in the fermentation degree(FD), indicating that the a/b ratio was a very useful trait for assessing fermentation degree. Also tea powders were scanned in the visible bands used with NIRSystem. The calibration equations for powder colors were developed using the regression method of modified partial least squares(MPLS) with the internal cross validation. The equations had low SECV (standard errors of cross-validation), and high $R^2$ (coefficient of determination in calibration) values with 0.996~1.00, indicating that the visible bands(400~700 nm) with NIRS could be used to rapidly measure the variables related to powder color and fermentation degree. Also another powders of 137 processed teas were scanned at 780~2500 nm bands in the reflectance mode. The calibration equations were developed using the regression method of MPLS with the internal cross validation. The equations had low SECV, and high $R^2$ (0.896~0.983) values, showing that NIRS could be used to rapidly discriminate the contents of EGC($R^2$=0.919), EC(0.896), EGCg(0.978), ECg(0.905) and total catechins(0.983) in processed teas with high precision and ease.