Methane production and energy partition in sheep fed timothy silage- or hay-based diets

Methane is produced as a result of anaerobic fermentation of the soluble and structural carbohydrates by methanogens in the rumen of ruminant animals. Removal of methane from rumen represents a loss of approximately 7.22% of gross energy intake.  Four ruminally fistulated Cheviot wethers were used in a crossover design to determine methane production and energy partition in sheep fed timothy silage- or hay-based diets. The experimental diets consisted of either timothy silage or timothy hay and a commercial concentrate (85:15, on DM basis). Variables measured were nutrients digestibility, energy balance and methane production. Apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF, cellulose and hemicellulose were significantly higher (P0.05) on sheep fed silage-based diet than those fed hay-based diet. Sheep fed silage-based diet had greater (P0.01) urinary energy loss, methane and heat production, but lower (P0.05) fecal energy loss. Methane production, either expressed as g kg-1 dry matter intake or g day-1 was markedly lower (P0.05) in hay-based diet as compared to silage-based diet. There was a strong relationship between methane production (g day-1) and NDF digested (g day-1) (R2 = 88.4%, P0.001). Methane production expressed as g kg-1 NDF digested in silage-based diet was higher (P0.05) than in hay-based diet (66.44 vs 62.70). These results indicate that methane release by sheep increased with increasing NDF digested. Key Words : Methane, Silage, Hay, Neutral detergent fiber, Shee

Methane production and energy partition in sheep fed timothy silage- or hay-based diets

Methane is produced as a result of anaerobic fermentation of the soluble and structural carbohydrates by methanogens in the rumen of ruminant animals. Removal of methane from rumen represents a loss of approximately 7.22% of gross energy intake. Four ruminally fistulated Cheviot wethers were used in a crossover design to determine methane production and energy partition in sheep fed timothy silage- or hay-based diets. The experimental diets consisted of either timothy silage or timothy hay and a commercial concentrate (85:15, on DM basis). Variables measured were nutrients digestibility, energy balance and methane production. Apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF, cellulose and hemicellulose were significantly higher (P<0.05) on sheep fed silage-based diet than those fed hay-based diet. Sheep fed silage-based diet had greater (P<0.01) urinary energy loss, methane and heat production, but lower (P<0.05) fecal energy loss. Methane production, either expressed as g kg-1 dry matter intake or g day-1 was markedly lower (P<0.05) in hay-based diet as compared to silage-based diet. There was a strong relationship between methane production (g day-1) and NDF digested (g day-1) (R2 = 88.4%, P<0.001). Methane production expressed as g kg-1 NDF digested in silage-based diet was higher (P<0.05) than in hay-based diet (66.44 vs 62.70). These results indicate that methane release by sheep increased with increasing NDF digested

Pneumococcal carriage in sub-Saharan Africa--a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Pneumococcal epidemiology varies geographically and few data are available from the African continent. We assess pneumococcal carriage from studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA) before and after the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) era. METHODS: A search for pneumococcal carriage studies published before 2012 was conducted to describe carriage in sSA. The review also describes pneumococcal serotypes and assesses the impact of vaccination on carriage in this region. RESULTS: Fifty-seven studies were included in this review with the majority (40.3%) from South Africa. There was considerable variability in the prevalence of carriage between studies (I-squared statistic = 99%). Carriage was higher in children and decreased with increasing age, 63.2% (95% CI: 55.6-70.8) in children less than 5 years, 42.6% (95% CI: 29.9-55.4) in children 5-15 years and 28.0% (95% CI: 19.0-37.0) in adults older than 15 years. There was no difference in the prevalence of carriage between males and females in 9/11 studies. Serotypes 19F, 6B, 6A, 14 and 23F were the five most common isolates. A meta-analysis of four randomized trials of PCV vaccination in children aged 9-24 months showed that carriage of vaccine type (VT) serotypes decreased with PCV vaccination; however, overall carriage remained the same because of a concomitant increase in non-vaccine type (NVT) serotypes. CONCLUSION: Pneumococcal carriage is generally high in the African continent, particularly in young children. The five most common serotypes in sSA are among the top seven serotypes that cause invasive pneumococcal disease in children globally. These serotypes are covered by the two PCVs recommended for routine childhood immunization by the WHO. The distribution of serotypes found in the nasopharynx is altered by PCV vaccination

Parents, take care

A morality song about warning parents to bring children up carefully

Mwe baiyashi cenjeleni (My parents take care)

This is a warning to bring up their children carefully or they will go to the bad. "I have 2 children, the boy is a 'tsotsi' (vagabond) and the girl is a Kapenta (a painted one) so I have given birth to 2 useless children." Mortality sing with guitar

2004a. Manipulation of rumen methanogenesis by the combination of nitrate with β1-4 galacto-oligosaccharides or nisin in sheep. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol

Abstract Effects of ␤1-4 galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) or nisin in combination with nitrate were assessed on rumen methanogenesis, intoxication by nitrate, and metabolic rate in nitrate-treated sheep. Four rumen-fistulated wethers were allocated in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Nitrate (1.3 g NaNO 3 /kg 0.75 of body weight (BW)), with and without ␤1-4 galacto-oligosaccharides or nisin was administered into the rumen through a fistula 30 min after the morning meal as a single dose, whereas, ␤1-4 galacto-oligosaccharides (20 g per day) or nisin (3 mg/kg 0.75 of BW per day) was supplemented by sprinkling it onto the feed. Physiological saline was used as control treatment. When compared to saline, nitrate alone markedly lowered rumen methane production and caused a marked accumulation of rumen and plasma nitrite, and formation of blood methemoglobin consequently reduced oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and metabolic rate. As compared to nitrate alone, simultaneous administration of nitrate with ␤1-4 galacto-oligosaccharides or nisin lowered the concentration of rumen and plasma nitrite and methemoglobin, while keeping rumen methanogenesis at a low level. A relatively higher rate of oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and metabolic rate of sheep given nitrate plus nisin was observed versus that in sheep given nitrate alone. Therefore, an appropriate combination of nitrate with ␤1-4 galacto-oligosaccharides or nisin might be effective manipulators to abate rumen methanogenesis without nitrate intoxication in ruminants