The bacterial community of the chicken's intestinal tract: impact of xylanase supplement

The effect of xylanase supplementation on the profile of the bacterial community of the gastrointestinal tract of layer chicken was investigated using PCR-DGGE analysis. Thirty four common bands, belonging to Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus salivarius, were excised from the DGGE gel, amplified, cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis of the clones revealed that 79.4% of sequences from the intestine were related to those of Lactobacillus spp., while the remaining 20.6% belonged to the four families, Clostridiaceae (8.8%), Streptococcus (5.8%), Bacteroides (3%) and Enterococcus (3%). Bacteria belonging to the genus Lactobacillus spp. were the predominant bacteria across the different treatments and segments of the gastrointestinal tract of chicken

Reduction of hydrogen sulphide in chicken manure by immobilized sulphur oxidising bacteria isolated from hot spring

The rapid development of the poultry industry has led to the production of large amounts of manure, which produce substances like hydrogen sulfide (H2S) that contribute to odor pollution. H2S is a highly undesirable gas component and its removal from the environment is therefore necessary. Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) are widely known to remove contaminating H2S due to their ability to oxidize reduced sulfur compounds. In this study, three potential SOB (designated AH18, AH25, and AH28) that were previously isolated from a hot spring in Malaysia were identified by 16S rRNA gene analysis. Laboratory-scale biological deodorization experiments were conducted to test the performance of the three isolates—in the form of pure or mixed cultures, with the cells immobilized onto alginate as a carrier—in reducing the H2S from chicken manure. On the basis of 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis, isolate AH18 was identified as Pseudomonas sp., whereas isolates AH25 and AH28 were identified as Achromobacter sp. The most active deodorizing isolate was AH18, with an H2S reduction rate of 74.7% (p 0.05), respectively. However, the H2S removal performance was enhanced in the mixed culture, with a reduction rate of 81.9% (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the three potential SOB isolates were capable of reducing the H2S from chicken manure in the form of a pure culture immobilized on alginate, and the reduction performance was enhanced in the mixed culture

Effects of glycerol and chestnut tannin addition in cassava leaves (Manihot esculenta Crantz) on silage quality and in vitro rumen fermentation profiles

The effects of glycerol and chestnut tannin addition on non-ensiled and ensiled cassava leaves which were then incubated in an in vitro rumen system were investigated to evaluate the ensiling characteristics and fermentation profiles, respectively. Both non-ensiled and ensiled cassava leaves were prepared using laboratory-scale minisilos with 4 different treatment types of additives. The treatments were Control (cassava leaves without additive [S0]), Cassava leaves + 3% dry matter (DM) of glycerol (SG), Cassava leaves + 3% DM chestnut tannin (ST), and Cassava leaves + 3% DM glycerol + 3% DM chestnut tannin (SGT). The cassava leaves silage recorded with high concentration of lactic acid, negligible amount of butyric acid, and low concentration of ammonia-N, demonstrates a well-preserved silage quality after 4 weeks fermentation. The in vitro total gas production and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration did not differ between the treatment groups, but the in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and the in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) increased after the ensiling process. The addition of glycerol alone or in combination with chestnut tannin showed propiogenic property in the non-ensiled cassava leaves. Chestnut tannin, when added singly or in combination with glycerol, reduced the ammonia-N and iso-VFA concentration in the ensiled cassava leaves. Furthermore, the addition of glycerol and/or chestnut tannin improved some of the silage quality and showed no detrimental effects on the in vitro rumen fermentation profiles

Effects of feeding dietary Palm Kernel Cake on egg production and egg quality of Khaki Campbell duck

The study examined the effects of graded levels of Palm Kernel Cake (PKC) on the laying performance and egg quality in Khaki Campbell ducks. Twenty-seven female Khaki Campbell ducks were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments viz T1 (0% PKC; control), T2 (15% PKC) and T3 (35% PKC) and the performance characteristics and egg quality traits were examined for 4 weeks. Ducks fed T2 and T3 had higher (P0.05) on the feed conversion ratio in ducks. Similarly, dietary PKC did not affect (P>0.05) the weekly egg production and the percentage of hen-day production. Ducks fed T2 and T3 had greater (P0.05) by dietary PKC. Results indicated that Khaki Campbell ducks could tolerate up to 35% PKC in their diets without detrimental effects on egg production and egg quality

In vitro fermentation profiles of palm kernel meal (PKM)-based diet supplemented with xylanase or cellulase using caecal digesta of broiler chickens as inoculums

In vitro fermentation profiles of palm kernel meal-based diet supplemented with or without xylanase and cellulase were investigated using broiler chickens caecal digesta as inoculum. Caecal digesta from 10 six week old male Cobb 500 broilers was diluted with pre-warmed anaerobic, sterile saline (9g/L NaCl) in a ratio of 1:5, and was used as inoculum. The PKM-based diet together with semi-defined medium and caecal inoculum was incubated in 100 ml glass syringe for 72 hours at 39±5°C. In vitro fermentation kinetics was determined through the in vitro cumulative gas production technique. End products such as ammonia, VFAs, and in vitro dry matter degradability were also quantified. The in vitro study of PKM-based diet supplemented with or without xylanase did not show any different effect on the gas production rate. However, the amount of butyrate production was increased when enzyme was supplemented. Both xylanase and cellulase supplementation in PKM diet had significantly improved (P<0.05) the in vitro dry matter degradability of the PKM compared to unsupplemented PKM diet, which more prominent result shown by xylanase supplementation

Effect of xylanase and cellulase supplementation on growth performance, volatile fatty acids and caecal bacteria of broiler chickens fed with palm kernel meal-based diet

In this study, the effect of xylanase and cellulase supplementation in palm kernel meal (PKM) based diet on growth performance, volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and the caecal bacterial populations of broiler chickens were investigated. Seventy five day old male Cobb broiler chicks were randomly allocated to three dietary treatment groups receiving T1 (20% PKM-based diet without enzyme), T2 (20% PKM-based diet with xylanase) and T3 (20% PKM-based diet with cellulase). Each enzyme was supplemented at an amount of 200U/kg of feed. Weekly body weight gain and feed intake were recorded. All chickens were slaughtered on day 35 and the caecum content was aseptically collected for VFAs quantification and bacterial enumeration. Supplementation of xylanase and cellulase in PKM diets had different effect on the growth performance, the number of caecal bacterial population and VFAs produced. A significant reduction in the cumulative feed intake of birds fed cellulase-supplemented PKM compared to xylanse-supplemented and unsupplemented PKM diet was observed. However, the final body weights gain and cumulative feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not significantly different between the treatment groups. Determination of VFAs production of the caecal contents demonstrated a significant difference in the production of iso-butyric and n-valeric acid among treatment groups. The number of total viable bacteria, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and coliform in caecal samples were also enumerated. Significant difference was observed in the number of caecal bacteria population between the treatment groups. The effect of xylanase and cellulase on weight gain of broiler chickens was strongly related to the feed intake rather than due to the decrease in the number of pathogenic bacteria in the caeca. Xylanase supplementation was beneficial in enhancing cumulative feed intake, weight gain and FCR of the broiler chickens, but did not entirely reduce the number of pathogenic caecal bacteria. However, cellulase supplementation reduced all parameters observed for growth performance and the number of caecal bacteria

The effects of effective microorganisms (EM) on the nutritive values of fungal-treated rice straw

A study to improve the nutritive values of rice straw by means of biological treatment was conducted. The rice straw was subjected to three treatments: plain rice straw (T1), rice straw treated with Aspergillus niger for 10 d (T2) and fungal-treated rice straw inoculated with EM (T3). All samples were subjected to proximate analysis to determine the dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) , crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), cellulose and hemicellulose content of rice straw after eight days of fermentation. The effect of fermentation days of T3 on the nutritive values and dry matter degradability (DMD) of the three treatment groups were also carried out on nine fistulated goats using nylon bag technique and data were recorded at six different fermentation times. No significant (p>0.05) difference was observed on the chemical composition of rice straw treated with A. niger except the CP content increased significantly (p<0.01) when compared with untreated rice straw (T1). However, when the fungal-treated rice straw was inoculated with EM, significant (p<0.01) difference was observed in CP, OM, NDF, ADF and cellulose content of the rice straw compared with T1. It was suggested that the optimum duration of fermentation by the EM on the fungal-treated rice straw was 6d of fermentation as hemicellulose content was recorded higher than other days of fermentation, while NDF, ADF, ADL, and cellulose content were relatively lower than previous days. DMD of rice straw was improved when fungal-treated rice straw was inoculated with EM

Increasing biogas production of rumen fluid using cattle manure collected at different time as a substrate

The effect of cattle manure collected at different time inoculated with rumen fluid of cattle on biogas production at mesophilic condition was evaluated. A laboratory experiment was carried out using 1000 ml biodigester and performed in batch operation mode. Approximately 100 grams of fresh cattle manure (M) was assigned to each biodigester and mixed with rumen fluid (R) and distilled water (W) into three different M:W:R ratio; 1:1:0; 1:0.5:0.5; and 1:0:1 respectively. All the treatments were prepared in triplicates. The pH of the slurry was recorded before and after the biogas production was determined. The biogas production was recorded at every three days interval for 24 days. The results obtained shows that the pH of the mixture before and after the biogas production provided a reading of 7.34 and 7.15. Significant different (P<0.05) was observed in the cattle manure collected at 0 h and 24 h between the treatment group and control. The best performance biogas production was observed if the rumen fluid used between the ranges of 25–50% of rumen fluid. Cattle manure collected after 12 h of defecation recorded with the highest biogas production compared to 0 h and 24 h of cattle post-defecation. The highest biogas produced was recorded in T3 throughout the experimental periods

Effects of dietary oil supplementation with different fatty acid profiles on rumen fibre degrading bacteria population in goats

Effects of dietary oil supplementation on the predominant rumen fibre-degrading bacteria population were investigated. In this experiment, rumen fibre-degrading bacteria population were evaluated on 16 fistulated male goats that were randomly assigned to four treatment groups: T1: control/basal diet (CNT); T2: basal diet + olive oil (OL); T3: basal diet + palm olein oil (PO); and T4: basal diet + sunflower oil (SF). The oil content was supplemented at 6% of DM bases. Rumen content was collected from each individual animal and the DNA was extracted accordingly. The number of rumen fibre-degrading bacteria was enumerated via real-time PCR method. Significant difference (P<0.05) were observed for Ruminococcus albus in supplemented diet as compared to T1. The other two fibre-degrading bacteria, Fibrobacter succinogenes and R. flavefaciens were not highly affected by the supplementation of the dietary oils. This study has demonstrated that supplementation of dietary oils with differing fatty acid components has no impact on the predominant rumen fibre-degrading bacteria which benefit the animals by providing extra energy from the dietary oil supplementation without compromising the ability of rumen fibre digestion process

Enhancing biogas production rate of cattle manure using rumen fluid of ruminants

The effects of rumen fluid from cattle and goats used as inoculums to increase biogas production using cattle manure as a substrate were investigated. Approximately 100 grams of fresh cattle manure (M) was assigned to each biodigester and mixed with rumen fluid (R) and a distilled water (W) according to five different treatment ratios, T1 (1:1:0); T2 (1:0.75:0.25); T3 (1:0.5:0.5); T4 (1:0.25:0.75); and T5 (1:0:1) (correspond to 0; 12.5; 25, 37.5; 50 % rumen fluid, respectively). All treatments were prepared in triplicates and runs at mesophilic condition. No significant different (P>0.05) was observed when comparing the biogas produced between the two type of rumen fluid used in this study. However, significant difference was noted when comparing between hours interval in the cattle manure inoculated with rumen fluid of the cattle and also goats. Data recorded that cattle rumen fluids produced more biogas than the goats. It was established that the increase in the biogas production at certain level was in respond to the amount of rumen fluids added into the mixture. The best performance of biogas production in this study was observed if the rumen fluid used between the ranges of 0.75 to 1 that correspond to 37.5 – 50 % of rumen fluid respectively