• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.1439-1444
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• 2002

An objective of this study was to determine the effects of increasing contents of rumen undegradable protein (RUP) from formalin treated soy bean (FSBM) on rumen functions. Four rumen canulated non-lactating cows were randomly allocated to total mixed rations (TMR) containing different proportions of soy bean meal (SBM) and FSBM. Of rumen fermentation characteristics, concentrations of ruminal fluid ammonia and molar proportions of isoacids decreased with increasing contents of RUP in diets (p<0.01). The animals on TMR containing only SBM gained less weight and had smaller rumen volume than those on TMR containing RUP from FSBM (p<0.05). Organic matter and neutral detergent fiber digestibility in sacco were not different (p>0.05). The density of protozoa particularly small Entodinium sp. in ruminal fluid was higher in animal fed TMR containing SBM:FSBM (34:66) and FSBM than those fed TMR containing SBM:FSBM (66:34) and SBM (p<0.01). Total viable count, and net microbial protein synthesis as indicated by purine derivatives in urine increased with increasing contents of RUP from FSBM (p<0.01). It can be concluded that a reduction in net microbial protein synthesis in the rumen with increasing contents of RUP in the diet can be due to the reduction of preformed protein available for microbial growth as well as an increased turnover rate of microbial cells by predatory activity of protozoa.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.460-470
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• 1997

On an absolute straw diet, the effect of graded levels of green grass supplementation on intake, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation pattern and microbial N yield has been studied in cattle. Of the two trials conducted, 16 intact growing bulls of 304 kg weight and 32 months old, randomly allocated to four treatments in a completely randomized design in the 1st trial. While, in the, 2nd trial, four rumen cannulated local bulls of about 60 months old and 400 kg weight were used in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design with four treatments in four periods. In both the trials, in addition to a mineral mixture, animals were supplemented with graded levels of naturally grown green grass of 0 kg (T1), 2 kg (T2), 4 kg (T3) or 6 kg (T4) to an ad libitum rice straw diet In the 1st trial, measurements were made on intake digestibility, growth rate, N balance and microbial N yield. While in the 2nd trial, in addition to the above parameters (except growth rate), rumen parameters were also studied. All levels of grass supplementation decreased the straw DM intake and increased the substitution rate. The rumen $NH_3-N$ concentration increased with the increase in grass level and ranges from 8-46 mg/l. The rumen pH and the rate and extent of DM degradability of straw were not affeceted by different rumen environments created by different levels of grass inclusion. At 48 h, straw DM degradability were 42, 44, 44 and 43% respectively for 0, 2, 4 and 6 kg grass supplementation daily. The whole gut digestibilities of DM, OM and ADF increased significantly (p < 0.05) only at 6 kg level daily. The microbial N yield was not affected by the levels of grass supplemented. The mean microbial N yield was 10 (SD 3.7) g/kg DOM apparently fermented in the rumen. The estimated minimum N loss and thus the maintenance requirement of tissue protein was 303 mg/kg $W^{0.75}/d$. All the animals lost live weight but 6 kg grass supplementation gave positive energy and N balances. Small amount of green grass supplementation is often recommended for optimization of rumen environment of a straw diet However, under the present experimental condition, no such beneficiary effect observed up to 6 kg (26% of DM intake) level of supplementation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.139-147
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• 1999

Peptides are formed in the rumen as the result of microbial proteinase activity. The predominant type of activity is cysteine ptoteinase, but others, such as serine proteinases, are also present. Many species of protozoa, bacteria and fungi are involved in ptoteolysis; large animal-to-animal variability is found when proteinase activities in different animals are compared. The peptides formed from proteolysis are broken down to amino acids by peptidases. Different peptides are broken down at different rates, depending on their chemical composition and particularly their N-terminal structure. Indeed, chemical addition to the N-terminus of small peptides, such as by acetylation, causes the peptides to become stable to breakdown by the rumen microbial population; the microorganisms do not appear to adapt to hydrolyse acetylated peptides even after several weeks exposure to dietary acetylated peptides, and the amino acids present in acetylated peptides are absorbed from the small intestine. The amino acids present in some acetylated peptides remain available in nutritional trials with rats, but the nutritive value of the whole amino acid mixture is decreased by acetylation. The genus Prevotella is responsible for most of the catabolic peptidase activity in the rumen, via its dipeptidyl peptidase activities, which release dipeptides rather than free amino acids from the N-terminus of oligopeptides. Studies with dipeptidyl peptidase mutants of Prevotella suggest that it may be possible to slow the rate of peptide hydrolysis by the mixed rumen microbial population by inhibiting dipeptidyl peptidase activity of Prevotella or the rate of peptide uptake by this genus. Peptides and amino acids also stimulate the growth of rumen microorganisms, and are necessary for optimal growth rates of many species growing on tapidly fermented substrates; in rich medium, most bacteria use pre-formed amino acids for more than 90% of their amino acid requirements. Cellulolytic species are exceptional in this respect, but they still incorporate about half of their cell N from pre-formed amino acids in rich medium. However, the extent to which bacteria use ammonia vs. peptides and amino acids for protein synthesis also depends on the concentrations of each, such that preformed amino acids and peptides are probably used to a much lesser extent in vivo than many in vitro experiments might suggest.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.104-115
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• 2003

A series of experiments was carried out to determine the possibility for the non-ionic surfactant (NIS) as a feed additive for ruminant animals. The effect of the NIS on (1) the enzyme distribution in the rumen fluids of Hereford bulls, (2) the growth of pure culture of rumen bacteria and (3) rumen anaerobic fungi, (4) the ruminal fermentation characteristics of Korean native cattle (Hanwoo), and (5) the performances of Holstein dairy cows were investigated. When NIS was added to rumen fluid at the level of 0.05 and 0.1% (v/v), the total and specific activities of cell-free enzymes were significantly (p<0.01) increased, but those of cell-bound enzymes were slightly decreased, but not statistically significant. The growth rates of ruminal noncellulolytic species (Ruminobacter amylophilus, Megasphaera elsdenii, Prevotella ruminicola and Selenomonas ruminantium) were significantly (p<0.01) increased by the addition of NIS at both concentrations tested. However, the growth rate of ruminal cellulolytic bacteria (Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens) were slightly increased or not affected by the NIS. In general, NIS appears to effect Gram-negative bacteria more than Gram-positive bacteria; and non-cellulolytic bacteria more than cellulolytic bacteria. The growth rates of ruminal monocentric fungi (Neocallimastix patriciarum and Piromyces communis) and polycentric fungi (Orpinomyces joyonii and Anaeromyces mucronatus) were also significantly (p<0.01) increased by the addition of NIS at all concentrations tested. When NIS was administrated to the rumen of Hanwoo, Total VFA and ammonia-N concentrations, the microbial cell growth rate, CMCase and xylanase activities in the rumen increased with statistical difference (p<0.01), but NIS administration did not affect at the time of 0 and 9 h post-feeding. Addition of NIS to TMR resulted in increased TMR intake and increased milk production by Holstein cows and decreased body condition scores. The NEFA and corticoid concentrations in the blood were lowered by the addition of NIS. These results indicated that the addition of NIS may greatly stimulate the release of some kinds of enzymes from microbial cells, and stimulate the growth rates of a range of anaerobic ruminal microorganisms, and also stimulate the rumen fermentation characteristics and animal performances. Our data indicates potential uses of the NIS as a feed additive for ruminant animals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1435-1439
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• 2005

Bacterio-mineral water (BMW) produced from manure has been known to exert a number of positive effects on animal production and odor control. An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of BMW produced from bio-reacted swine manure on in vitro gas production, cellulose degradation, microbial growth and fibrolytic enzyme activities of mixed rumen microorganisms. The five levels of 0, 0.001, 0.005, 0.01 and 1.0% BMW were supplemented into serum vials containing mixed rumen microorganisms. Incubations were carried out anaerobically at $39^{\circ}C$ without shaking for 0, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. There were no significant (p>0.05) differences among the treatments for the initial rate of gas production. At 72 h incubation, the gas production tended (p<0.1) to be increased by the 0.01 and 1.0% BMW treatments compared with control and the 0.001% BMW treatment. At the end of incubation (96 h), the sample supplemented with 0.01% BMW was higher (p<0.05) than control (0% BMW) in the gas production. The microbial growth rate was increased by all the BMW treatments, while 0.01% BMW was most effective in stimulating the growth rate. Although the addition of BMW on the filter paper DM degradation was not significantly influenced throughout the incubation period except the 48 h incubation, DM degradation tended to be increased by all BMW treatments compared with control. The addition of both 0.005 and 0.01% BMW highly increased (p<0.05) CMCase activity compared with control after 24 h and 48 h incubation, while at the 72 h incubation the 0.01% BMW addition only significantly increased (p<0.05). After 72 h incubation, the xylanase activity was significantly (p<0.05) increased with the addition of 1.0% BMW compared with the addition of 0.001 and 0.005% BMW, while at the other incubation times, the xylanase activity was not different among the treatments. In conclusion, the 0.01% BMW of supplementation level would be the suitable addition level to stimulate rumen fermentation increasing microbial growth and cellulose degradation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.1084-1093
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• 2000

An in vitro gas production system was used to investigate the influence of various substrate mixtures on a natural mix of rumen microbes by measurement of fermentation end-products. The treatments were combinations of cassava (15.0, 30.0 and 45.0%) with different roughage sources (ruzi grass, rice straw or urea treated rice straw). Microbial biomass, net $^{15}N$ incorporation into cells, volatile fatty acid production, gas volume and rate of gas production increased linearly with increasing levels of cassava inclusion. There was also an effect of roughage source, with rice straw being associated with the lowest values for most parameters whilst similar values were obtained for ruzi grass and urea treated rice straw. The results suggest that microbial growth and fermentation rate increase as a function of readily available carbohydrate in the substrate mixture. A strong linear relationship between $^{15}N$ enrichment, total volatile fatty acid production and gas production kinetics support the suggestion of the use of the in vitro gas production system as a tool for screening feedstuffs as an initial stage of feed evaluation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1555-1561
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• 2007

In order to know the effects of scoria, germanium, charcoal, ginger, stevia, and CLA(Conjugated Linoleic Acid) as biologically active materials on pathogenic microbes and rumen anaerobic microbes, the growth rate of pathogens (including Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella paratyphi, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus) and in vitro lumen microbial growth, gas production, ammonia concentration, carboxymethyl-cellulase (CMCase) activity, and microbial populations were investigated. The growth of pathogenic microbes was inhibited by the supplement of 0.10% ginger. Ginger had powerful antimicrobial properties on all the pathogens used in this experiments. Additionally in the antibacterial assay by paper disc method, we could observe the clear zone of similar area with the positive control(antibiotics) for E. coli as applied with the 10% stevia or the 10% CLA only. The supplements of ginger, stevia and CLA in vitro rumen fermentation inhibited populations of rumen bacteria and protozoa. Particularly supplement of ginger resulted in remarkable reduction of the protozoa population, which means it might serve as a source inhibiting material of methane creation in the rumen.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.485-490
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• 2001

Farmers in the centre of Vietnam have a tradition of dosing young cattle with groundnut oil before fattening them on a diet of rice straw and road-side grass. These farmers claim the cattle grow faster. It was hypothesized that the effect of the oil could be to eliminate the protozoa from the rumen. This is known to increase the net microbial growth efficiency in the rumen and increase the protein supply to the animal. To test this hypothesis, two experiments were undertaken; one on-station with four cattle fitted with rumen cannulae and the second a growth trial with 25 young cattle in smallholder farms. When the cannulated animals were drenched with groundnut oil, the protozoa were eliminated from the rumen and animals could be kept free of protozoa by isolation. The ammonia concentration in the rumen fluid was decreased when the protozoa were eliminated and there was an indication of improved rumen dry matter degradability of the forage components of the diet. In the practical condition on the smallholder farms, the growth rates of cattle drenched with groundnut oil were increased considerably (65%) compared with untreated control animals. The laboratory results when taken together with the on-farm results indicate that these resource-poor farmers had been able to defaunate their cattle and to maintain the fauna-free state by isolation of their animals from extraneous stock. This traditional practice in Central Vietnam, whereby one family keeps only one or two animals that are hand fed and tethered, has quite a large potential for all of those countries where animals are fed agro-industrial by-products, as it is highly economic. The use of 1 litre of oil compared with 1 kg of rice polishing per day (300 kg over 300 days), would be highly profitable in all countries of South-East Asia.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.54-62
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• 2018

Objective: Due to the threat of global warming, the livestock industry is increasingly interested in exploring how feed additives may reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, especially from ruminants. This study investigated the effect of Rhodophyta supplemented bovine diets on in vitro rumen fermentation and rumen microbial diversity. Methods: Cannulated Holstein cows were used as rumen fluid donors. Rumen fluid:buffer (1:2; 15 mL) solution was incubated for up to 72 h in six treatments: a control (timothy hay only), along with substrates containing 5% extracts from five Rhodophyta species (Grateloupia lanceolata [Okamura] Kawaguchi, Hypnea japonica Tanaka, Pterocladia capillacea [Gmelin] Bornet, Chondria crassicaulis Harvey, or Gelidium amansii [Lam.] Lamouroux). Results: Compared with control, Rhodophyta extracts increased cumulative gas production after 24 and 72 h (p = 0.0297 and p = 0.0047). The extracts reduced methane emission at 12 and 24 h (p<0.05). In particular, real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that at 24 h, ciliate-associated methanogens, Ruminococcus albus and Ruminococcus flavefaciens decreased at 24 h (p = 0.0002, p<0.0001, and p<0.0001), while Fibrobacter succinogenes (F. succinogenes) increased (p = 0.0004). Additionally, Rhodophyta extracts improved acetate concentration at 12 and 24 h (p = 0.0766 and p = 0.0132), as well as acetate/propionate (A/P) ratio at 6 and 12 h (p = 0.0106 and p = 0.0278). Conclusion: Rhodophyta extracts are a viable additive that can improve ruminant growth performance (higher total gas production, lower A/P ratio) and methane abatement (less ciliateassociated methanogens, Ruminococcus albus and Ruminococcus flavefaciens and more F. succinogenes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.455-461
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• 1998

This study was proposed to investigate effects of inclusion of Chinese milk vetch silage (MVS) and rapeseed meal (RSM) on the growth and rumen fermentation of Hu-sheep. Fifty weanling lambs were randomly divided into five equal groups and offered ammoniated rice straw (ABRS) ad libitum along with 100 g concentrate (Trial 1). The animals in $T_0$, $T_1$, $T_2$, $T_3$ and $T_4$ group were respectively supplemented with MVS at levels of 0, 0, 7, 14 or 21% and with RSM at levels of 0, 15, 10, 5 or 0%. Daily gain of lambs was significantly (p<0.05) higher in $T_1$, $T_2$ and $T_3$ group than that in $T_0$ and $T_4$ group. Feed conversion ratio was greatly reduced in supplemented groups as compared with $T_0$ group. In trial 2, five sheep with rumen cannulae were used in a $5{\times}5$ Latin square design. The experimental treatments were as described in Trial 1, but without concentrate. The intake of AVRS was significantly (p<0.05) lower in $T_4$ group than that in $T_0$ group, and also significantly (p<0.05) lower than those in $T_1$ and $T_2$ group. Little difference among all treatments was found in 48h DM degradability of ABRS, MVS and RSM, and in rumen pH value and microbial protein concentration. Rumen concentrations of individual and total VFA tended to be higher in supplemented groups than those in $T_0$ group.These rusults suggest that supplementation with RSM or RSM plus MVS can effectively improve the performance of lambs, and may fail to influence markedly the rumen digestion of ABRS and rumen environments.