Effects of exogenous cellulase and xylanase enzyme preparations on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, growth, and economics of rearing Mongolian lambs

In a completely randomised design, twenty four 12-months old Mongolian breed male lambs averaging 21.6 ± 0.48 kg of body weight (BW) were used to evaluate the effects of exogenous cellulase and xylanase enzyme preparations on feed intake, digestibility of nutrients, growth and economics of rearing lambs. The lambs were randomly assigned to six treatment groups with four animals per treatment. The treatment combinations comprised: i) two enzyme preparations, i.e. cellulase vs. xylanase (ENZc, ENZx), ii) two ration types, i.e. wheat straw + wheat bran (diet W) vs. barley straw + wheat bran (diet B) and iii) two control diets (diet W and diet B without enzyme preparations, –ENZ). Lambs were fed the cellulase and xylanase treated wheat and barley straws ad libitum whereas the wheat bran was offered at 400 g DM per day. Significant effects were observed for nutrient intake of diet B+ENZc, and for crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) digestibility of diet W+ENZc. The average daily gain (ADG) increased in all enzyme treated groups with highest values found in diet B+ENZc, but without significant differences found between the two enzyme preparations. Both enzyme preparations had positive effects on feed conversion ratio (FCR) of both diets, where by the highest values were found for diet B +ENZc. Enzyme preparation had no effect on the total feed cost for both diet types and showed positive effects on other economic parameters, where by cellulase yielded better results than xylanase. These results suggest that cellulase addition is effective for improving digestibility of nutrients, growth performance and net revenue ingrowing lambs

Use of poultry pre-cooked slaughterhouse waste as ruminant feed to prevent environmental pollution

The generation of poultry slaughterhouse waste from poultry production is not only unavoidable but the amount and kinds of waste can cause environmental problems. In the present study, the potential rumen digestion of poultry slaughterhouse waste which consists of protein-rich organic residues was evaluated. The chemical composition, amino acid profile and Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System fractions of these wastes was determined. Rumen digestion of poultry slaughterhouse waste was compared with two common protein sources (fish meal and roasted soybean). Three poultry slaughterhouse waste samples were collected from industrial poultry slaughter-houses and the in situ degradation was done using rumen cannulated sheep. The protein (50e63%), ether extracts (18e27%) and ash (9e15.5%) contents of different poultry slaughterhouse waste samples were different (P < 0.05). Methionine and lysine contents were similar among different poultry slaughterhouse waste sources. Difference were observed for cystine (1.2e1.7%), threonine (1.9e2.2%), arginine (3e3.5%), leucine (3.5e4.1%) and valine (2.8e3.3%) (P < 0.05). Ruminal degradation rate for dry matter, organic matter and protein were different among poultry slaughterhouse waste, fish meal and roasted soybean. The degradation parameter for protein degradation was 76% for poultry slaughterhouse waste, 79% for fish meal and 98% for roasted soybean (P < 0.05). Results revealed that there was great variation in chemical composition, protein fractioning, and amino acid profiles of different poultry slaughterhouse waste sources. Poultry slaughterhouse waste is slowly-degraded protein in the rumen and thus can be an economical and rich source of rumen undegradable protein in ruminant nutrition. This implies that the use of poultry slaughterhouse waste in ruminant nutrition has a huge potential as a cleaner product of animal feeding and prevention environmental pollution. However, further studies are warranted to evaluate the digestibility of poultry slaughterhouse waste amino acids escaping the rumen into the intestine in ruminants and to compare the biological values for the amino acids in these waste material with common ruminant feedstuffs

Use of poultry pre-cooked slaughterhouse waste as ruminant feed to prevent environmental pollution

The nine samples from each slaughterhouse were pooled and sub-sampled to make three samples per slaughterhouse. Dried PSW samples were ground through a 1 mm screen (Wiley mill, Arthur H. Thomas, Philadelphia, PA), and samples analyzed for amino acids, total nitrogen, fat, ash and organic matter (AOAC, 1990). The CNCPS protein fractions of the PSW was determined according to standardized procedure of Licitra et al. (1996) at the University of Bahonar, Kerman. The B2 fraction was calculated by difference and results are reported as CP percentage. Phosphate buffer soluble nitrogen (PBSN) was determined using the phosphate buffer. Neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen (NDIN) and acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) were determined as the nitrogen content of the residual after neutral and acid detergent procedures. The analysis of 11 amino acids i.e. arginine, cysteine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine in three different PSW samples was performed using NIRS, FOSS 5000 Denmark at the Paya Amin Mehr Company (Tehran, Iran).The generation of poultry slaughterhouse waste from poultry production is not only unavoidable but the amount and kinds of waste can cause environmental problems. In the present study, the potential rumen digestion of poultry slaughterhouse waste which consists of protein-rich organic residues was evaluated. The chemical composition, amino acid profile and Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System fractions of these wastes was determined. Rumen digestion of poultry slaughterhouse waste was compared with two common protein sources (fish meal and roasted soybean). Three poultry slaughterhouse waste samples were collected from industrial poultry slaughter-houses and the in situ degradation was done using rumen cannulated sheep. The protein (50e63%), ether extracts (18e27%) and ash (9e15.5%) contents of different poultry slaughterhouse waste samples were different (P < 0.05). Methionine and lysine contents were similar among different poultry slaughterhouse waste sources. Difference were observed for cystine (1.2e1.7%), threonine (1.9e2.2%), arginine (3e3.5%), leucine (3.5e4.1%) and valine (2.8e3.3%) (P < 0.05). Ruminal degradation rate for dry matter, organic matter and protein were different among poultry slaughterhouse waste, fish meal and roasted soybean. The degradation parameter for protein degradation was 76% for poultry slaughterhouse waste, 79% for fish meal and 98% for roasted soybean (P < 0.05). Results revealed that there was great variation in chemical composition, protein fractioning, and amino acid profiles of different poultry slaughterhouse waste sources. Poultry slaughterhouse waste is slowly-degraded protein in the rumen and thus can be an economical and rich source of rumen undegradable protein in ruminant nutrition. This implies that the use of poultry slaughterhouse waste in ruminant nutrition has a huge potential as a cleaner product of animal feeding and prevention environmental pollution. However, further studies are warranted to evaluate the digestibility of poultry slaughterhouse waste amino acids escaping the rumen into the intestine in ruminants and to compare the biological values for the amino acids in these waste material with common ruminant feedstuffs

The effects of three total mixed rations with different concentrate to maize silage ratios and different levels of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris on in vitro total gas, methane and carbon dioxide production

The aim of the current study was to assess the effects of adding Chlorella vulgaris algae at different levels on in vitro gas production (GP) of three total mixed rations (TMR) with different concentrate (C): maize silage (S) ratios (25C : 75S, 50C : 50S, 75C : 25S). Chlorella vulgaris was added at 0, 20, 40 and 80 mg/g dry matter (DM) of the TMR and total gas, methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) production were recorded after 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24 and 48 h of incubation in three runs. Increasing concentrate portion in the TMR linearly increased the asymptotic GP and decreased the rate of GP without affecting the lag time. Addition of C. vulgaris at 20 mg/ g DM to the 25C : 75S TMR increased the asymptotic GP, CH4, CO2 and GP at 48 h. Addition of C. vulgaris to the 50C : 50S TMR decreased the asymptotic GP and GP at 48 h. Higher CH4 production was observed at 48 h of incubation when C. vulgaris was included at (per g DM): 20 mg for the 25C : 75S ration, 40 mg for the 50C : 50S ration and 80 mg for the 75C : 25S ration. Inclusion of C. vulgaris linearly increased CH4 production for the 50C : 50S ration and increased CO2 production at 10 and 12 h of incubation for the 50C : 50S ration, whereas 20 and 40 mg C. vulgaris/g DM of the 75C : 25S TMR decreased CO2 production. The 25C : 75S TMR had the highest in vitro DM disappearance with C. vulgaris addition. Chlorella vulgaris addition was more effective with rations high in fibre content than those high in concentrates. It can be concluded that the optimal level of C. vulgaris addition was 20 mg/g DM for improved ruminal fermentation of the 25C : 75S TMR

Rumen degradation and nutritive utilization of wheat straw, corn stalks and sugarcane bagasse ensiled with multienzymes

Agricultural wastes such as wheat straw, corn stalks and sugarcane bagasse are carbohydrate-rich materials with a large potential as a source of dietary energy for ruminants. However, such feeds have poor nutritional value with low nitrogen and high fibre content (Tang et al. 2013; Ghorbani et al. 2014; Kholif et al. 2014). Although ruminant production systems depend mainly on forages as the main nutritional components, the digestion of these fibrous forages in the rumen is limited by their high content of fibre and inefficient fibre degradation (Krause et al. 2003; Khattab et al. 2013), thus limiting their use as the sole feed for actively growing or high-performing ruminants (Dean et al. 2013). The high fibre content also prevents the access of ruminal hydrolytic enzymes to cellulose and hemicellulose (Chesson 1984).The aim of this study was to determine the effect of anaerobic ensiling of raw agricultural wastes with a fibrolytic enzyme cocktail (EZ) as a cleaner and sustainable biological product for animal feed. Ten 1-kg samples of wheat straw, corn stalks and sugarcane bagasse were chopped at 5 cm length and mixed with EZ at three levels of 0, 1 or 3 L enzyme/ton of feed, moistened to a relative humidity of approximately 50% and ensiled in plastic bales for 30 days. Additionally, fibrous samples were incubated for 72 h with rumen liquor to determine the digestion of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre. Increasing enzyme level lowered ether extract and nitrogen-free extract contents of fibrous feeds and increased the biodegradation of acid detergent lignin of wheat straw. Anaerobic ensiled corn stalks and sugarcane bagasse with EZ improved the biodegradation of DM and fibre fractions. It could be concluded that ensiling fibres of the three wastes with EZ improved and enhanced their ruminal digestion with the biodegradation rate at 3 L/ton and subsequently produced a cleaner product for animal feed from agriculture wastes

Effects of organic acid salts on ruminal biogas production and fermentation kinetics of total mixed rations with different maize silage to concentrate ratios

Methane is a major greenhouse gas (GHG) produced during the normal digestive process in ruminant animals (Blaxter and Clapperton, 1965) with a global warming potential, 25-fold that of carbon dioxide (IPCC, 2007). In addition to environmental implications, ruminant methanogenesis represents a loss of 2e12% of the gross energy intake (Johnson and Johnson, 1995; Soltanali et al., 2015) with a greater environmental impact from the confinement system compared with pasture-based system (O'Brien et al., 2012). A cow can produce 250 to 500 L of methane (CH4) per day depending on the quantity and quality of the feed which affects rate of digestion and rate of passage in the fermentation process (Johnson and Johnson, 1995). Furthermore, cattle consuming high fibre diets typically lose about 6% of gross dietary energy as methane (CH4), whereas those on high concentrate rations generally lose about 3% of dietary gross energy as CH4 (Mc Geough et al., 2012). According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the livestock sector is responsible for about 18% of total global anthropogenic GHG emissionsRuminants are one of the major generators of methane, a greenhouse gas (GHG) with a global warming potential, 25-fold that of carbon dioxide. Methane production by ruminants also reduces the gross feed energy intake utilization by about 2e12%. The present study aimed to test the effects of different levels of a ruminal fermentation modulator (RFM) on in vitro ruminal fermentation and GHG production of five total mixed rations (TMR) with different silage (S) to-concentrate (C) ratios (0S:100C, 25S:75C, 50S:50C, 75S:25C, and 100S:0C). The RFM contained mainly calcium propionate and malate, and monopropylene glycol. The rumen inoculum was collected from a Brown Swiss cow fed a TMR of concentrate and alfalfa hay (1:1 dry matter (DM)) ad libitum. Gas production (GP) measurements were recorded up to 72 h of incubation. There were interactions (P 0.05) on methane production. The DM digestibility increased (linear effect; P ¼ 0.003) as silage level increased. Overall, increasing silage in the TMR lowered the asymptotic GP and DM digestibility. The asymptotic GP was higher with the addition of the RFM without any effect on fermentation kinetics. These results suggest that the RFM can be used as an environmental cleaner product in animal farming due to its ability to improve ruminal fermentation of feedstuffs and to reduce methane emission

In Vitro Gas, Methane, and Carbon Dioxide Productions of High Fibrous Diet Incubated With Fecal Inocula From Horses in Response to the Supplementation With Different Live Yeast Additives

Yeast supplementation of horse diets can influence nutrient digestibility and microbiota dynamics in the horse hindgut. In some in vitro [6] and in vivo [4] studies, yeast addition to the diets improved digestion of low-quality forages. It has been shown that yeast supplementation can alter the microbial environment by increasing the total number of hindgut microorganisms [7]. As a result, feed digestion in the hindgut can be enhanced, especially that of the fiber fraction, most likely due to increased numbers of cellulolytic bacteria in the hindgut [8]. In contrast, other studies have reported no effect of yeast addition to equine diets on nutrient digestibility in vitro [7] or in vivo [9].In a randomized block design experiment, the effect of fecal inocula from horses supplemented with live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in diets containing 50% oat straw on in vitro total gas (gas production [GP]), methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2) productions as indicators of hindgut activity was assessed. Three commercial products of S. cerevisiae were tested (1) Biocell F53 (YST53), (2) Procreatin 7 (YST07), and (3) Biosaf SC47 (YST047). For the incubations, each product was added at 0 (control without yeast addition), 2, or 4 mg/g dry matter (DM). Fecal inocula for incubations with each treatment was obtained from Quarter Horse mares fed the same yeast additives for 15 days, resulting in four different fecal inocula (FI53, FI07, FI47, and FI00). The fecal content mixed with the culture media were used to inoculate three identical runs of incubation in bottles containing 1-g DM of substrate (a mixture of concentrate and oat straw [1:1 DM]). The GP, CH4, and CO2 productions were measured at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, and 48 hours postincubation. Addition of additives YST53 and YST07 at 2 mg/g DM resulted in higher asymptotic GP (linear effect, P ¼.021) and GP during the first 12 hours of incubation (linear effect, P <.05) compared with control without yeast addition, with the highest value being for the dose 2 mg/g DM with the fecal inoculum FI53. The additive YST47 at all doses with fecal inoculum FI47 had lower GP (linear effect, P < .05) at different incubation hours compared with control. The additive YST53 increased GP, CH4, and fermentation kinetics at the dose 2 mg/g DM with decreasing CH4 production by 78% at 4 mg/g DM at 24 hours of incubation. Addition of YST53 at 2 and 4 mg/g DM with fecal inoculum FI53 enhanced fermentation kinetics (P < .05) compared with control and other additives at different doses. It can be concluded that the yeast additive Biocell F53 was the most effective at doses of 2 and 4 mg/g DM compared with other Saccharomyces strains to attain a more favorable hindgut fermentation to digest fibrous roughages by horses

The effect of garlic oil, xylanase enzyme and yeast on biomethane and carbon dioxide production from 60-d old Holstein dairy calves fed a high concentrate diet

Ruminal fermentation is accompanied by production of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) which are greenhouse gases (GHG) that cause environmental pollution. The effect of natural feed additives on the in vitro fermentation and production of CH4 and CO2 in dairy calf has had less attention. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of garlic oil, xylanase enzyme, and yeast on in vitro biogas production from dairy calves fed a high concentrate diet. Rumen contents from 60-d old Holstein calves fed a concentrate diet were used as inoculum source. Garlic oil was included at 30,120, 250 and 500 mL/g dry matter (DM), while xylanase was included at 3 and 6 mL/g DM and yeast at 2 and 4 mg/g DM. The substrate used was the same as the diet fed to calves. Garlic oil linearly decreased (P < 0.05) in vitro DM digestibility and there were no differences among levels of either xylanase or yeast. Garlic oil decreased (P < 0.05) DM degradability while xylanase and yeast had no effect. The lag phase was linearly increased (P < 0.05) with increasing level of garlic oil. Garlic oil quadratically decreased CH4 and CO2 production. The control treatment had the highest CH4 and CO2 production followed by xylanase, yeast and garlic oil. Increasing level of xylanase and yeast increased (P < 0.05) CO2 production. It can be concluded that garlic oil followed by yeast and then xylanase can be used to mitigate in vitro CH4 and CO2 production from dairy calves fed a high concentrate diet. However, further research is warranted to establish the efficacy of such feed additives in in vivo trials

Effect of exogenous enzymes and Salix babylonica extract or their combination on haematological parameters in growing lambs

The aim of this study was to compare the use of exogenous enzyme preparations (EZ) and/or Salix babylonica extract (SB) or their combination as feed additives on some haematological parameters in growing lambs. Twenty Suffolk lambs of 6 to 8-months-old with 24±0.3 kg body weight were used in the study. Lambs were divided into 4 groups of 5 animals each in a completely randomized design and the treatments were: 1.control: fed a basal diet of concentrate (30%) and maize silage (70%); 2. EZ: fed the basal diet plus 10 g of enzyme; 3. SB: fed the basal diet plus 30 ml of S. babylonica extract, and 4. EZSB: fed the basal diet plus 10 g enzyme and 30 ml of S. babylonica extract. Lambs were housed in individual cages and the experiment was conducted for 60 days. The SB was given orally while the EZ was mixed with a small amount of the concentrate and maize silage and was offered ad libitum. Blood samples were collected from each animal on days 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 of experiment and analysed for haematological parameters. The treatments of EZ, SB or EZSB did not affect any of the measured blood parameters. Day of sampling modified concentrations of red blood cells (P=0.001; linear effect), haematocrit (P=0.01; quadratic effect), haemoglobin (P=0.01; linear effect), mean corpuscular volume (P=0.01; linear effect), monocytes (P=0.004; quadratic effect) and plasma protein (P=0.0002; linear effect). It could be concluded that Salix babylonica extract, exogenous enzymes and their combination as feed additives had not a negative effects on the blood parameters measured and therefore on the health of the lambs

The chemical composition and in vitro digestibility evaluation of almond tree (Prunus dulcis D. A. Webb syn. Prunus amygdalus; var. Shokoufeh) leaves versus hulls and green versus dry leaves as feed for ruminants

The current study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of almond tree (Prunus dulcis D. A. Webb syn. Prunus amygdalus; var. Shokoufeh) leaves versus hulls, and green versus dry leaves as feed for ruminants. The fresh green almond hulls (GAH) and leaves (GAL) were harvested and spread under a shade to dry. Dry almond leaves (DAL) were collected from under the trees where as dry almond hulls (DAH) were collected 4 weeks after harvesting the fresh samples. The chemical composition of substrates was determined using standard approaches and the metabolisable energy (ME), in vitro dry matter (DMD) and in vitro organic matter (OMD) digestibility were measured using the in vitro gas production (GP) technique. The GAL contained 81 g crude protein (CP) kg-1 DM while DAH contained 103 g CP kg-1 DM. The CP was higher (P = 0.0003) in dry (leaves and hulls) than in green (leaves and hulls) samples. The ash content ranged from 99.2 to 181.5 g kg-1 DM in DAH and DAL, respectively, (P = 0.0041). The ether extract content ranged from 27 for DAH to 65 g kg-1 for DAL (P = 0.0018). The acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre content ranged from 185 to 304 and 444 to 620 g kg-1 DM (P = 0.04), for GAL and DAH, respectively. The DAH had the highest (P = 0.0001) GP24 and GP96. The DAH had the highest (P = 0.0001) potential GP (i.e., b), while the GP rate was highest for GAL and GAH (P = 0.034), ME was highest for DAH (P = 0.0001), and in vitro OMD was highest for DAH (P = 0.0001). The highest DMD (P = 0.0001) values were obtained with DAH followed by GAL, DAL and GAH, respectively. It can be concluded that almond hulls and leaves have a good nutritional potential to cover the maintenance nutrient requirements of small ruminants. Almond hulls and leaves can also be used as supplement to low quality mature pasture and/or crop residues. However, more studies are warranted to better characterize these feeds in in vivo animal feeding trials