• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1705-1711
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of ruminally protected amino acids (RPAAs) and ruminally protected fat (RPF) supplementation on ruminal fermentation characteristics (in vitro) and milk yield and milk composition (in vivo). Fourteen mid-lactating Holstein dairy cows (mean weight $653{\pm}62.59kg$) were divided into two groups according to mean milk yield and number of days of postpartum. The cows were then fed a basal diet during adaptation (2 wk) and experimental diets during the treatment period (6 wk). Dietary treatments were i) a basal diet (control) and ii) basal diet containing 50 g of RPAAs (lysine and methionine, 3:1 ratio) and 50 g of RPF. In rumen fermentation trail (in vitro), RPAAs and RPF supplementation had no influence on the ruminal pH, dry matter digestibility, total volatile fatty acid production and ammonia-N concentration. In feeding trial (in vivo), milk yield (p<0.001), 4% fat corrected milk (p<0.05), milk fat (p<0.05), milk protein (p<0.001), and milk urea nitrogen (p<0.05) were greater in cows fed RPAAs and RPF than the corresponding values in the control group. With an index against as 0%, the rates of decrease in milk yield and milk protein were lower in RPAAs and RPF treated diet than those of basal diet group (p<0.05). In conclusion, diet supplemented with RPAAs and RPF can improve milk yield and milk composition without negatively affecting ruminal functions in Holstein dairy cows at mid-lactating.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 2013

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of Cynanchum wilfordii (CW) on cell viability, anti-oxidant activity, volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and methane gas production. Collected rumen fluid incubated with CW powder (1% w/v) for 12 and 24 hours were analyzed for pH, VFAs and methane. Alamar blue assay showed no significant difference on the viability of 3T3-L1 and C2C12 cells treated with CW for 24 hours. TBARS data showed a dose dependent increase on the antioxidant activity of CW. VFAs increased in the CW-treated groups compared to the control group. In addition, propionate increased more than other VFAs by the treatment with CW. There was a significant decrease in methane gas production in batch culture treated with CW in 12hrs. In conclusion, it was suggested that Cynanchum wilfordii could manipulate rumen fermentation considered by increasing VFA production and inhibition of methanogenesis.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.74-83
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• 2024

Objective: Mitragyna speciosa Korth is traditionally used in Thailand. They have a high level of antioxidant capacities and bioactive compounds, the potential to modulate rumen fermentation and decrease methane production. The aim of the study was to investigate the different levels of microencapsulated-Mitragyna leaves extracts (MMLE) supplementation on nutrient degradability, rumen ecology, microbial dynamics, and methane production in an in vitro study. Methods: A completely randomized design was used to assign the experimental treatments, MMLE was supplemented at 0%, 4%, 6%, and 8% of the total dry matter (DM) substrate. Results: The addition of MMLE significantly increased in vitro dry matter degradability both at 12, 24, and 48 h, while ammonia-nitrogen (NH₃-N) concentration was improved with MMLE supplementation. The MMLE had the greatest propionate and total volatile fatty acid production when added with 6% of total DM substrate, while decreased the methane production (12, 24, and 48 h). Furthermore, the microbial population of cellulolytic bacteria and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens were increased, whilst Methanobacteriales was decreased with MMLE feeding. Conclusion: The results indicated that MMLE could be a potential alternative plant-based bioactive compound supplement to be used as ruminant feed additives.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.515-521
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• 2008

This experiment was conducted to investigate effects of non-ionic or zwitterionic (+/-) surfactants on digestibility of rice straw, and changes of growth of rumen mixed microbes, pH, and gas production during in vitro fermentation. Also, during in vitro ruminal fermentation, microbial attachment on rice straw was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Tween 80 or SOLFA-850 for non-ionic surfactant (NIS), and 3-(Dodecyldimethylammonio) propanesulfanate (DDAP) for zwitterionic surfactant (ZIS) was supplemented by 0.05% and 0.1% in Dehority's artificial medium containing Holtein rumen fluid, respectively, and the substrate for fermentation was rice straw passed through 1 mm screen. The experiment was composed of 7 treatments (two levels of two NISs, two levels of a ZIS) including the control, and 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hr of fermentation time with 3 replications per treatment. Treatment of Tween 80 increased in vitro DM digestibilities during 48 hr and 72 h post fermentations compared to the other treatments, whereas treatment of DDAP as a ZIS resulted in decreased DM digestibility than that of the control from 24 hr post fermentation (P<0.05). Gas production in vitro was greater (P<0.05) with addition of NIS than the control or ZIS, and increased as fermentation time elapsed. Rumen mixed microbial growth was greatest with addition of Tween 80 as NIS, and lowest when DDAP as ZIS was supplemented to the fermentation tube (P<0.05). In SEM observation, rumen microbial population attached on rice straw particle was greater with addition of NIS, but was less with addition ZIS compared with the control. In conclusion we could not found any positive effects of ZIS surfactants on rumunal fermentation characteristics and rumen microbial growth rates.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1557-1566
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• 2007

Ten male crossbred (Thai $Native{\times}Anglo$ Nubian) goats with average live weight of $27{\pm}2$ kg were randomly assigned according to a $5{\times}5$ replicated Latin square design to receive five diets, $T_1$ = concentrate with 0% cassava chip (CC), $T_2$ = 25% CC, $T_3$ = 50% CC, $T_4$ = 75% CC and $T_5$ = 100% CC. Fresh elephant grass (FEG) was offered ad libitum as the roughage. A metabolism trial lasted for 21 days during which liveweight changes and feed intakes were measured. Based on this experiment, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) among treatment groups regarding DM intake and digestion coefficients of nutrients (DM, OM, NDF and ADF), except for $T_5$ (100% CC) which was lowest (p<0.05) in digestion coefficient of CP than $T_1$ and $T_3$. Rumen parameters (ruminal pH, $NH_3$-N and volatile fatty acids), blood urea nitrogen, blood glucose and packed cell volume were similar among treatments. Moreover, rumen microorganism populations were not affected (p>0.05) by cassava inclusion. The amount of N absorption and retention were similar among treatments, except for $T_5$ which tended to be slightly lower. Based on this experiment, it could be concluded that the optimal level of cassava inclusion to replace corn in goat diets was in the range of 25-75% of CC when fed with FEG and it was a good approach in exploiting the use of local feed resources for goat production.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1324-1329
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effects of organic acids on methane emission and ruminal fermentation characteristics. We expected our methodology to result in a decrease of methanogens attached to the surface of rumen ciliate protozoa by addition of organic acids and in particular a decrease in methane emission. A fistulated Holstein cow of 650 kg body weight was used as a donor of rumen fluid. Organic acids (aspartic acid, fumaric acid, lactic acid, malic acid, and succinic acid) known to be propionate enhancers were added to an in vitro fermentation system and incubated with rumen fluid. The microbial population, including bacteria, protozoa, and fungi, were enumerated, and gas production, including methane and fermentation characteristics, were observed in vitro. Organic acids appeared to affect the rumen protozoan community. The rumen protozoal popuation decreased with the addition of aspartic acid, fumaric acid, lactic acid, and malic acid. In particular, the methane emission was reduced by addition of lactic acid. The concentration of propionate with all organic acids that were added appeared to be higher than that of the control at 12 h incubation. Addition of organic acids significantly affected rumen bacteria and microbial growth. The bacteria in added fumaric acid and malic acid was significantly higher (p<0.05) and protozoa was significantly lower (p<0.05) than that of the control. Microbial growth with the addition of organic acids was greater than the control after 48 h incubation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1690-1698
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• 2011

Feedlot and in vitro ruminal experiments were conducted to assess the effects of saponin-containing surfactant applied during tempering of barley grain on cattle growth performance and on ruminal fermentation. In the feedlot experiment, treatments with three barley grain/barley silage based diets were prepared using barley grain at 7.7% moisture (dry, D), after tempering to 18% moisture (M), or after tempering with a saponin-based surfactant included at 60 ml/t (MS). Each treatment was rolled at settings determined previously to yield optimally processed barley. A total of 180 newly weaned British${\times}$Charolais steers were fed three diets in 18 pens for a 63-d backgrounding period and 91-d finishing period to determine feed intake, growth rate and feed efficiency. Cattle were slaughtered at the end of the experiment to measure the carcass characteristics. Tempering reduced (p<0.001) volume weight and processing index, but processing characteristics were similar between MS and M. Tempering increased (p<0.05) growth during backgrounding only, compared with D, but did not affect feed intake in either phase. During backgrounding, feed efficiency was improved with tempering, but during finishing and overall this response was only observed with the surfactant. Tempering did not affect carcass weight, fat content or meat yield. Surfactant doubled the proportion of carcasses grading AAA. In the in vitro experiment, barley (500 mg; ground to <1.0 mm or steam-rolled) was incubated in buffered ruminal fluid (40 ml) without or with surfactant up to 20 ${\mu}l/g$ DM substrate for 24 h. Surfactant increased (p<0.05) apparent DM disappearance and starch digestibility but reduced productions of gas and the volatile fatty acid and acetate:propionate ratio, irrespective of barley particle size. Compared with feeding diets prepared with non-tempered barley, tempering with surfactant increased the feed efficiency of feedlot steers. This may have arisen from alteration in processing characteristics of barley grain by surfactant rather than its direct effect on rumen microbial fermentation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 2001

An in vitro study was conducted to examine the effect of sources and the addition levels of carbohydrates on fermentation characteristics, bacterial growth, and hydrogenation of linoleic acid ($C_{18:2}$) by mixed ruminal bacteria. Starch and cellobiose were added to the 200 ml non-selective basal media at the levels of 0.20 and 0.35% (w/v), respectively. Linoleic acid (66.8~79.6 mg) in the absorbed form into the pieces of nylon cloth was also added to the media of 5 treatments including control which was not added with carbohydrate. Three mls of rumen fluid strained through 12 layers of cheese cloth were added to each medium, and were incubated anaerobically in the shaking incubator of $39^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours. During 24 h incubation the pH in incubation media of all treatments was maintained above 6.6 by the addition of sodium bicarbonate. The pH and ammonia concentration of incubation media were not clearly influenced by the sources and addition levels of carbohydrates while additions of carbohydrates increased (p<0.0001) VFA concentration at the 24 h incubation. Molar proportions of acetate were reduced (p<0.0004) while those of propionate were increased (p<0.0006) by the addition of carbohydrates. But the differences in concentration and molar proportions of the VFA were small between the sources or the addition levels. Bacterial growth was faster (p<0.0004) in the starch added treatments than in the cellobiose added ones and control, but no differences were found between addition levels. Increased (p<0.0487) hydrogenation was observed from the starch added treatments compared to the cellobiose added ones, but there was no difference between addition levels.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.1374-1382
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• 2001

Fifteen Inner Mongolian wethers with permanent ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used to study the effects of dietary rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) to rumen-degradable protein (RDP) ratios or protein sources on fiber digestion in the gastrointestinal tract and ruminal fluid characteristics. Fiber digestion and ruminal fermentation were not affected (p>0.05) by dietary RUP to RDP ratios (from 1.54 to 0.72). Soybean meal supplementation improved ruminal digestion. Fish meal supplementation increased (p<0.05) the ruminal degradability of fiber. The different RUP to RDP ratios (from 1.54 to 0.72) did not influence (p>0.05) ruminal fluid pH, but there were differences (p<0.05) in ruminal fluid $NH_3-N$ concentration because of urea replacement. Soybean meal as a dietary protein source decreased (p<0.05) ruminal fluid pH and increased (p<0.05 or p<0.01) $NH_3-N$, acetate, propionate and butyrate concentrations in the rumen. Fish meal as a dietary protein source decreased (p<0.05 or p<0.01) ruminal $NH_3-N$ and acetate concentrations and increased (p<0.05) ruminal propionate concentration. It can be concluded that dietary protein sources have more significant effect on fiber digestion and ruminal fermentation than different dietary RUP to RDP ratios, when the dietary crude protein requirements of growing sheep are satisfied.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.1219-1227
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• 2000

Rumination behavior, in vivo digestibility of cell wall constituents, particle size reduction in the rumen, and retention time in the digestive tract of sheep were examined using rice and oat straw as roughage sources. The in sacco digestibility, rumen fermentation, and microbial population and internal adenosine 5-triphosphate (ATP) content were also determined under feeding conditions of high-roughage and high-concentrate diets. Chewing number and time in rumination behavior were higher with rice straw than with oat straw, while the in sacco and in vivo DMD of rice straw were consistently lower than those of oat straw. Rice straw also showed higher frequency of thinner and longer particles in the rumen contents and lower retention time in the whole digestive tract as compared to those of oat straw. Rice straw was more effective to maintain the ruminal pH than oat straw, being reflected in higher internal ATP content of large-type protozoa on the high- concentrate diet. Changes in the ruminal microflora by shifting from the low- to the high- concentrate diet were also different between rice and oat straw.