Lactation performance and blood metabolites in lactating dairy cows micro-supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf meal

This study examined the effects of micro-supplementation of Moringa oleifera leaf meal on lactation performance and blood metabolites of lactating dairy cows. Thirty Jersey cows (± 40 days in milk (DIM)) were supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf meal (M) at 0 (M0), 30 (M30) and 60 g/cow/day. The experiment lasted until 90 DIM with 14 days adaptation. Milk yield was recorded daily and samples were collected once weekly to determine milk composition and total antioxidant capacity (MTAC). Blood samples were collected on days 54, 68 and 90 in milk to determine serum total protein (TSP), albumin (Alb), immunoglobulin G (IgG) and serum total antioxidant capacity (STAC). Body weight (BW) and milk yield were not affected (P >0.05) by Moringa supplementation. Moringa supplementation at M60 increased (P <0.05) milk fat and MTAC with a significant reduction in somatic cell count (SCC). Increased (P <0.05) total serum protein (TSP) and IgG with reduced (P <0.05) non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) levels were observed in M60. Increased (P <0.05) STAC levels were noted in all groups supplemented with Moringa. Micro-supplementation with Moringa oleifera at 60 g/cow/day markedly reduced oxidative stress, which resulted in improved milk quality and immunity in lactating Jersey cows.Keywords: antioxidant herbs, antioxidative status, immunity, Jersey cows, milk yiel

Co-products in maize-soybean growing-pig diets altered in vitro enzymatic insoluble fibre hydrolysis and fermentation in relation to botanical origin

The study examined the effects of botanical factors and fermentation-based, high-level dilution of co-product feeds in maize–soybean growing-pig diets on enzymatic insoluble fibre hydrolysis and fermentation. Feed insoluble fibre residues that were recovered after pepsin-pancreatin digestion were subjected to Roxazyme® G2 (Roxazyme) versus Viscozyme L® V2010 (control) hydrolysis, and to 64-hour fermentation using pig faecal inoculum. The control diet was a 13 MJ metabolizable energy, 141 g total dietary fibre/kg dry matter maize-meal/hominy chop-soybean diet, which was diluted with maize cob, soybean hulls, barley brewer’s grains, lucerne hay or wheat bran in 12 MJ metabolizable energy, 246 g total dietary fibre/kg dry matter iso-nutrient, single co-product test diets. Fermentable insoluble fibre was employed in a computerized iterative selection of ingredients in two iso-nutrient 11 MJ metabolizable energy 319 total dietary fibre/kg dry matter mixed fibre test diets for maximal contrast (high (HF) versus low (LF)) in fermentability. Insoluble fibre extractive pepsin-pancreatin digestibility differed between feed ingredients, and the single co-product test diets, and between the HF and LF mixed co-product diets. Fibre digestibility depended on both the origin and enzyme, with interaction, whereby carbohydrases expressed similar low (0.04 - 0.05) insoluble fibre digestibility for maize cob, moderate (0.12) digestibility for wheat bran and brewer’s grain, with inferior Roxazyme G2 digestibility for maize hominy chop (0.02 vs 0.10) and meal (0.04 vs 0.16), dehulled soybean meal (0.02 vs 0.17), lucerne hay (0.08 vs 0.18), and soybean hulls (0.05 vs 0.33). Co-product-enzyme affinities were expressed in single fibre diets. Low Roxazyme-basal fibre affinity limited its comparative single co-product (0.03 - 0.07 vs 0.16 - 0.22) HF (0.07 vs 0.17) and LF (0.4 vs 0.20) dietary fibre digestibility. Screening for HF/LF did not affect enzymatic digestion, though enzyme combination increased HF, but not LF digestibility. Gas and short chain fatty acid production predicted fermentability proportionately in the declining order of dehulled soybean ≥ maize ≥ soy hulls ≥ maize hominy chop > wheat bran >lucerne hay ≥ brewer’s grain = maize cob. Induced HF and LF contrast was significant. Co-product fibre enrichment decreased fermentability for all except the soy hull and HF diets. Cereal fibre yielded proportionately less acetate, with more propionate and butyrate, and a greater butyrate shift for maize fibre. The HF fibre induced more ACE and less butyrate. Biomarkers of deleterious proteolytic fermentation were high for lucerne (iso-butyrate) and soy hulls (iso-valerate). In conclusion, high-level and fermentation based co-product feed dilution into maize-soybean growing pig diets altered enzymatic insoluble fibre hydrolysis and fermentation in relation to botanical origin. Roxazyme expressed weak hydrolytic potency on maize and soybean insoluble fibre.Keywords: fermentation gas, fermentation kinetics, fibre fermentability, insoluble non-starch polysaccharides, non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzymes, proteolytic fermentation, short-chain fatty acid

Germination performance of different forage grass species at different salinity (NaCl) concentrations

Please read abstract in the article.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tarf20hj2022Plant Production and Soil Scienc

Germination performance of different forage grass species at different salinity (NaCl) concentrations

Certain grasses show potential for the rehabilitation of coalmine spoils. Species selection and evaluation are used to guide the choice of the most appropriate grass species. This study evaluated the germination performance of seven forage grass species, with some represented by two varieties, under varying salinity conditions of 0 (distilled H2O), 100, 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1 000 mS m−1 of NaCl. Cumulative germination, final germination percentage (FG%), and time taken to reach 50% of the final germination (T50) were determined for each species–treatment combination. Species × salinity interaction was significant (p < 0.01) for cumulative germination, FG% and T50. Cumulative germination increased gradually up to 17 days and thereafter declined. The highest FG% for all grass species was attained under distilled water (0 mS m−1), ranging from 38% to 94%, and declined significantly (p < 0.01) with an increase in salinity. T50 increased with increasing salinity for all grass species. Eragrostis curvula var. Ermelo and Lolium multiflorum var. Archie were the quickest to germinate and attained significantly (p < 0.01) higher values of FG%, of 45% and 50%, respectively, at 600 mS m−1, indicating higher salt tolerance than the other species. Overall, increasing salinity reduced the germination performance of all grass species tested; however, Archie and Ermelo showed higher potential for rehabilitation of coalmine spoils irrigated with saline water