5 research outputs found
Hydrated lime matrix decreases ruminal biohydrogenation of flaxseed fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients for humans, but dietary intake of these
nutrients by many Americans is inadequate due to low consumption of omega-3-rich
foods such as fish, walnuts, and flaxseed. In contrast, per capita consumption of red
meat is relatively high, but these products normally contain only small amounts of
omega-3 fatty acids. Feeding cattle diets that contain omega-3 fatty acids has consistently
increased the proportion of the desirable fats that accumulate in beef. Unfortunately,
the proportion of dietary omega-3 fats that are deposited into beef tissues is
relatively low, because microorganisms within the rumen biohydrogenate the unsaturated
omega-3 fatty acids extensively to produce the saturated fats that are characteristic
of beef fat. Encapsulation of fats has been proposed as a method for improving efficiency
of transfer of omega-3 fats into beef. Encapsulation processes apply a protective
barrier on the surface of fats or fat-containing feeds, which theoretically decreases fats’
susceptibility to microbial biohydrogenation. Protective coatings must remain intact to
retain their functionality, and physical damage to the coatings that occurs with normal
handling can result in poor efficacy because the core material is exposed to microorganisms
in the rumen. Embedding feed particles within a homogeneous protective matrix
constitutes a potentially useful alternative to protective surface barriers. The matrix is
created by mixing feed particles that are to be protected with a suitable matrix material
that is resistant to microbial digestion and subsequently forming the mixture into pills.
In cases where physical damage occurs, exposure of the core material is confined to the
broken surface, and the remainder of the matrix retains its ruminal stability.
The objective of this study was to determine if embedding flaxseed within a matrix of
hydrated dolomitic lime could be used as a method to decrease biohydrogenation of
polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, thus improving efficiency of omega-3 fatty acids
absorption into the bloodstream
Effect of Megasphaera elsdenii NCIMB 41125 dosing on rumen development, volatile fatty acid production and blood β-hydroxybutyrate in neonatal dairy calves
Thirty calves were randomly assigned to 2 treatments and fed until weaning (42 days (d) of age).
Treatments were a control group (n=15), which did not receive Megasphaera elsdenii (Me0) and
a M. elsdenii group, which received a 50-mL oral dose of M. elsdenii NCIMB 41125 (108
CFU/mL) at d 14 d of age (Me14). Calves were given colostrum for the first 3 d followed by
limited whole milk feeding. A commercial calf starter was offered ad libitum starting at d 4 until
the end of the study. Fresh water was available throughout the study. Feed intake and growth
were measured. Blood samples were collected via jugular venipuncture to determine β-
hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations. Fourteen male calves (7 per group) were euthanized
on d 42 and digestive tracts harvested. Reticulo-rumen weight was determined and rumen tissue
samples collected from the cranial and caudal sacs of the ventral and dorsal portions of the rumen for measurements of papillae length, papillae width, and rumen wall thickness. Dosing
with M. elsdenii NCIMB 41125 improved starter dry matter intake (DMI), weaning body weight
(BW), and tended to improve average daily gain. Calves in Me14 group had greater plasma
BHBA concentration than Me0-calves during the last 3 weeks of the trial, and had at d 42 greater
reticulo-rumen weight, papillae width and papillae density compared to Me0. No differences in
rumen wall thickness or papillae length were observed between the two groups. Total volatile
fatty acids, acetate, and propionate production did not differ between treatments, but butyrate
production was greater in Me14 than Me0. Dosing M. elsdenii NCIMB 41125 showed benefit for
calves with improved feed intake and rumen development suggesting increased epithelium
metabolism and improved absorption of digestive end products.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1439-03962016-10-31hb201
Dosing with Lactipro decreases forage intake and manure output
High-concentrate diets consisting of cereal grains and grain byproducts have high
energy density compared with forage-based diets. To avoid digestive disorders, cattle
must be adapted to concentrates, which often entails feeding a series of step-up diets
that contain progressively less roughage over a 2- to 3-week period. This allows the
microbial population to adapt to fermentation of the starches and sugars that are present
in high-concentrate diets. If cattle are not properly adapted to concentrate-based
diets, lactic acid, which is produced by opportunistic starch-fermenting bacteria like
Streptococcus bovis, can accumulate, predisposing the animal to acidosis. Diets used
during the adaptation phase are by nature less digestible than the final finishing diet,
which results in increased manure output and suboptimal performance during the
adaptation period.
Lactipro, a relatively new probiotic drench containing the lactate-utilizing bacteria
Megasphaera elsdenii, has been utilized effectively to accelerate the adaptation of cattle
from roughages to concentrate-based diets. Our objective was to determine the impact
on diet digestibility and manure output in cattle dosed with Lactipro (MS Biotech,
Inc., Wamego, KS) and placed directly onto high-concentrate diets without prior
adaptation
Crude glycerin improves feed efficiency in finishing heifers
Crude glycerin is the principal byproduct of biodiesel production. The raw feedstocks,
animal fats and vegetable oils, yield approximately 90 lb of biodiesel and 10 lb of crude
glycerin for each 100 lb of input. When ingested by cattle, glycerin has two major fates:
(1) direct absorption by the rumen epithelium, and (2) fermentation by microorganisms
within the rumen to generate volatile fatty acid, mainly propionate. Using glycerin
in feedlot cattle diets has become common, particularly as a component of liquid feed
supplements.
We have evaluated the use of crude glycerin in cattle diets in previous studies and generally
have observed positive effects on dry matter intake and feed efficiency when fed
up to 8% of the diet on a dry matter basis. Crude glycerin can be highly variable in its
composition, however, containing varying proportions of residual alcohol, soaps, and
salts. Our focus in the present experiment was on the sodium content of crude glycerin.
We hypothesized that the high concentration of sodium in glycerin, when combined
with salt that normally is incorporated into feedlot diets, would result in abnormally
high levels of sodium that could have deleterious consequences for feed consumption.
The objective of this study was to evaluate feedlot performance and carcass characteristics
of finishing heifers fed diets containing high levels of crude glycerin in the presence
and absence of added salt
Influence of Linpro and dietary copper on feedlot cattle performance, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid composition of beef
Human diets often contain high levels of saturated fatty acids that can have deleterious
health consequences such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. In contrast, omega-3
fatty acids, which are essential for human nutrition, are consumed at relatively low
levels despite of their positive effects on health. Natural sources of omega-3 fatty acids
include fresh legumes, cool-season grasses, flaxseed, and fish oil. In spite of the fact
that fresh forages often are a key part of the cattle diet, beef is a relatively poor source
of omega-3 fatty acids because of biohydrogenation, the action of microorganisms
in the rumen that convert polyunsaturated fatty acids, including the omega-3 fats,
into saturated fats. Previous research at Kansas State University has shown that feeding
cattle flax-based feeds can increase concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids in beef.
Researchers at Colorado State University have reported that elevated levels of dietary
copper can inhibit the biohydrogenation process to yield beef with greater proportions
of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Our objective was to evaluate whether feeding elevated
copper concentrations in conjunction with Linpro (O&T Farms; Regina, Saskatchewan,
Canada), a co-extruded blend of field peas and flaxseed, could be used to further
improve the levels of omega-3 fatty acids in beef