Fibrolytic enzyme supplementation through ruminal bolus on eating behavior, nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation in Jersey heifers fed either corn silage- or sugarcane silage-based diets

Evaluation of Increasing Dietary Concentrations of a Multi-Enzyme Complex in Feedlot Lambs' Rations

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of the M-E complex (xylanase, glucanase, cellulase, and invertase) Optimax E® on the performance of growing lambs, their digestibility, and their rumen microbiota, and to estimate NEm, NEg, and ruminal methane levels. Forty lambs (Katahdin x Dorset; 22.91 ± 4.16 kg) were randomly assigned to dietary concentrations of ME (0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8% DM) and fed individually for 77 days. Increasing M-E improved feed conversion (p < 0.05) as well as NEm and NEg (p < 0.05), which were associated with increased in vivo DM and NDF digestion (linear and quadratic p < 0.01). Few microbial families showed abundancy changes (Erysipelotrichaceae, Christensenellaceae, Lentisphaerae, and Clostridial Family XIII); however, the dominant phylum Bacteroidetes was linearly reduced, while Firmicutes increased (p < 0.01), resulting in a greater Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio. Total Entodinium showed a quadratic response (p < 0.10), increasing its abundancy as the enzyme dose was augmented. The daily emission intensity of methane (per kg of DMI or AGD) was reduced linearly (p < 0.01). In conclusion, adding the M-E complex Optimax E® to growing lambs' diets improves their productive performance by acting synergistically with the rumen microbiota, modifying the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio toward more efficient fermentation, and shows the potential to reduce the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions from lambs.

Dietary supplementation with xylooligosaccharides and exogenous enzyme improves milk production, energy utilization efficiency and reduces enteric methane emissions of Jersey cows

BACKGROUND

Sustainable strategies for enteric methane (CH₄) mitigation of dairy cows have been extensively explored to improve production performance and alleviate environmental pressure. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary xylooligosaccharides (XOS) and exogenous enzyme (EXE) supplementation on milk production, nutrient digestibility, enteric CH₄ emissions, energy utilization efficiency of lactating Jersey dairy cows. Forty-eight lactating cows were randomly assigned to one of 4 treatments: (1) control diet (CON), (2) CON with 25 g/d XOS (XOS), (3) CON with 15 g/d EXE (EXE), and (4) CON with 25 g/d XOS and 15 g/d EXE (XOS + EXE). The 60-d experimental period consisted of a 14-d adaptation period and a 46-d sampling period. The enteric CO₂ and CH₄ emissions and O₂ consumption were measured using two GreenFeed units, which were further used to determine the energy utilization efficiency of cows.

RESULTS

Compared with CON, cows fed XOS, EXE or XOS + EXE significantly (P < 0.05) increased milk yield, true protein and fat concentration, and energy-corrected milk yield (ECM)/DM intake, which could be reflected by the significant improvement (P < 0.05) of dietary NDF and ADF digestibility. The results showed that dietary supplementation of XOS, EXE or XOS + EXE significantly (P < 0.05) reduced CH₄ emission, CH₄/milk yield, and CH₄/ECM. Furthermore, cows fed XOS demonstrated highest (P < 0.05) metabolizable energy intake, milk energy output but lowest (P < 0.05) of CH₄ energy output and CH₄ energy output as a proportion of gross energy intake compared with the remaining treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary supplementary of XOS, EXE or combination of XOS and EXE contributed to the improvement of lactation performance, nutrient digestibility, and energy utilization efficiency, as well as reduction of enteric CH₄ emissions of lactating Jersey cows. This promising mitigation method may need further research to validate its long-term effect and mode of action for dairy cows.

Bioconversion of alperujo into an alternative feed for ruminants by pretreatment with live yeasts and/or exogenous fibrolytic enzymes

Extraction of olive oil through a two-stage centrifugation process produces a large amount of phytotoxic waste known as alperujo. This research was performed to bioconvert alperujo into enriched ruminant feed by pretreatment with exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE) or/and live yeasts (LY). These additives were used in a completely randomized design with 3 EFE doses (0, 4, and 8 µl/g dry matter) and 3 LY doses (0, 4, and 8 mg/g dry matter) in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement. Fermented alperujo with both EFE doses converted some of their hemicellulose and cellulose to simple sugars and increased bacterial abundance in the rumen. As a result, it shortens the lag time of rumen fermentation, increases the rate and amount of rumen fermentation, and improves digestibility. This improvement provides additional energy that can be used by ruminants to produce milk and by rumen microbiota to produce short-chain fatty acids. Fermented alperujo with a high dose of LY decreased their antinutritional compounds and reduced their high content of lipid. In the rumen, this waste became rapidly fermentable, and rumen bacteria became more abundance. Fermented alperujo with a high dose of LY + EFE accelerated rumen fermentation and improved rumen digestibility, energy available for milk production, and short-chain fatty acids compared to the use of LY or EFE alone. This synergistic interaction between these two additives increased protozoa abundance in rumen and the ability of rumen microbiota to bioconvert ammonia-nitrogen to microbial protein. Ultimately, fermentation alperujo with EFE + LY is a good strategy with minimum investment for a social sustainable economy and environment.

Effect of Fibrolytic Enzymes, Cellulolytic Fungi and Lactic Acid Bacteria on Fermentation Characteristics, Structural Carbohydrate Composition and In Vitro Digestibility of Rice Straw Silage

This study aimed to investigate the effect of fibrolytic enzymes, cellulolytic fungi and lactic acid bacteria on the fermentation quality, structural carbohydrate composition and in vitro digestibility of rice straw silage. This experiment followed a completely randomised block design; four treatments were designed: (1) distilled water (control, CON); (2) fibrolytic enzymes (2.0 g/kg fresh weight (FW), E); (3) Trichoderma reesei (4400 U/kg FW, F); (4) Enterococcus faecium Y83 (1 × 106 cfu/g FW, Y83). All additives were diluted with distilled water and sprayed onto the rice straw (20 mL/kg FW). The rice straw was placed into a laboratory silo (10 L) after uniformly mixing and stored at ambient temperature (17–22 °C) ensiling for 3, 7, 14, 30 and 60 days. The fermentation quality in treated silages was improved compared to the CON, as indicated by lower pH, propionic acid, acetic acid and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) contents. Furthermore, Y83 had the lowest (p < 0.05) pH and highest (p < 0.05) lactic acid content after 60 days of ensiling. Y83 significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the neutral detergent fibre content compared with CON, E and F. In addition, E and Y83 had significantly (p < 0.05) higher in vitro dry matter digestibility and in vitro neutral detergent fibre digestibility than CON and F. Overall, Y83 can be used as a promising inoculant for improving the fermentation quality of rice straw silage.

Lactational performance, feeding behavior, ruminal fermentation and nutrient digestibility in dairy cows fed whole-plant faba bean silage-based diet with fibrolytic enzyme

Whole-plant faba bean silage has a high content in indigestible fiber. Improvement of fiber digestibility of faba bean silage would benefit animal production. However, there is no study on pretreating fibrolytic enzyme in whole-plant faba bean silage-based diet for dairy cows on animal performance. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of pretreating whole-plant faba bean silage-baseddiet with fibrolytic enzyme (a mixture of xylanase and cellulase; AB Vista, UK) derived from Trichoderma reesei(FETR) on lactational performance, digestibility, ruminal fermentation characteristics, and feeding behavior of dairy cows. The animal trial was conducted using eight lactating Holstein cows (BW = 710 ± 44 kg and Days in Milk (DIM) = 121 ± 17 days) with four levels of FETR (0, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 mL of FETR/kg DM of silage) in a replicated Latin square design. These enzyme treatments were selected based on the previous in situ and in vitro findings that showed positive responses to the whole-plant faba bean silage. The enzyme treatments were directly applied on the silage prior to mixing process. The total mixed rations contained 31% of faba bean silage, 14% of grass hay, 3.5% of straw, 30% of barley and corn grain and 21.5% of concentrate. There was no significant difference of applying FETR on nutrient intake (P > 0.05) except for CP intake, which was reduced in FETR group compared to control (P < 0.01, 4.4 vs 4.54 kg/d). There was a linear effect found in NDF digestibility when treated with FETR, where maximum improvement was achieved with 0.5 mL of FETR application. The milk fat yield, percentage of milk fat and fat-corrected milk were linearly affected by the increasing level of enzyme. The cows fed a diet supplemented with enzymes tended to have a lower milk fat. Feed efficiency linearly responded to incremental levels of FETR. There was no enzyme effect on feeding behavior and nitrogen balance and utilization. Results from this study indicated that supplementing fibrolytic enzyme on whole-plant faba bean silage diets for dairy cows improved lactational performance, intake and digestibility with 0.5 mL of FETR application. However, adding higher enzyme level resulted in negative effects on animal performance.

Dietary enzyme addition on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of pigs fed diets containing avocado oil cake silage

Avocado oil cake (AOC) was mixed with dried grape pomace and sugarcane molasses and ensiled for 90 days. A total mixed ration containing 5% AOC silage was formulated and top dressed with Axtra® XB enzyme at 0, 2.5 and 5%. The experimental diets were fed to 24 (8 pigs/diet) Large White × Landrace (LW × LR) cross pigs (± 22-kg live weight). Growth performance data was recorded for 60 days, after which the pigs were adapted to chromic oxide mixed diet for 3 days, whereby faeces were collected for 5 days after to determine nutrient digestion. Following nutrient digestion, pigs were fasted for 12 h, weighed and slaughtered. Carcass samples were collected and analysed for meat quality. Dietary addition of enzyme increased (P < 0.05) dry matter intake and nutrient digestibility, but did not affected (P > 0.05) feed conversion ratio and average daily gain. Carcass characteristics were not affected (P > 0.05); however, small and large intestine weight and length were increased (P < 0.05) with enzyme inclusion in feed. Dietary treatments did not affect (P > 0.05) the colour and cooking quality of the meat. Enzyme addition was worth in the growth performance and nutrient digestion but did not affect the carcass characteristics and meat quality of pigs.

Effects of exogenous fibrolytic and amylolytic enzymes on ruminal fermentation and performance of mid-lactation dairy cows

Lactation diets are composed mostly of carbohydrates that are not fully fermented by rumen microbes. The aim of this study was to evaluate exogenous fibrolytic (Fibrozyme, Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, KY) and amylolytic (Amaize, Alltech Inc.) enzymes on nutrient intake, sorting index, total-tract apparent digestibility, ruminal fermentation, nitrogen utilization, milk yield, and composition of dairy cows in mid-lactation. Thirty-two multiparous Holstein cows (181 ± 35 d in milk, 571 ± 72.7 kg of body weight, and 29.6 ± 5.24 kg/d of milk yield at the start of experiment) were blocked according to milk yield and randomly allocated to treatments in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Treatments were (1) control, basal diet without exogenous enzymes; (2) fibrolytic enzyme (FIB), dietary supplementation of Fibrozyme at 12 g/d (51 IU of xylanase activity/kg of diet dry matter); (3) amylolytic enzyme (AMY), dietary supplementation of Amaize at 8 g/d (203 fungal amylase units/kg of diet dry matter); and (4) both fibrolytic and amylolytic enzymes (FIB+AMY) added at the same dose of the individual treatments. Enzyme products were added to the concentrate during its preparation (once a week). The supply of FIB and AMY had no effect on nutrient intake and digestibility. However, an interaction effect was observed on sorting index of feed particle size between 8 and 19 mm. Amylolytic enzyme increased the sorting for feed particles between 8 and 19 mm, only when fed without FIB. In addition, AMY decreased the sorting for feed with particle size greater than 19 mm. An interaction effect was observed between FIB and AMY for ruminal butyrate concentration and N excretion. Amylolytic enzyme increased ruminal butyrate concentration in cows treated with FIB. Further, FIB decreased milk protein production and feed efficiency only in cows not fed AMY. Amylolytic enzyme reduced urinary N excretion. Exogenous enzymes had no effect on milk production and composition of dairy cows. This study lacks evidence that fibrolytic and amylolytic enzymes can affect nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and performance of mid-lactation cows.

Influence of adding fibrolytic enzymes on the ruminal fermentation of date palm by-products

This study was conducted in order to assess the influence of four doses (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg (g dry matter) - 1 of commercial fibrolytic enzymes (MAXFIBER-I ® , SHAUMANN GmbH, Wahlstedt, Germany) on in vitro fermentation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) by-products: date kernels, wasted dates, floral stems, and palm fronds. Rumen contents were obtained from two non-lactating Holstein cows. Enzyme supplementation to by-products was carried out 12 h prior to incubation. Compared to the control, the enzymatic supplementation quadratically increased the extent but not the gas production rate of date kernel fermentation. Indeed, the potential gas production increased notably by 14.8 % with the lowest enzymes dose following recorded gas production after 48, 72, and 96 h of incubation. The estimated organic-matter digestibility, metabolisable energy, and total volatile fatty acids in the incubation fluid tended to be increased with the lowest dose by 7.8 %, 8.4 %, and 13.9 % respectively. For the wasted dates, this feed additive tended to linearly increase the gas production rate of fermentation with the highest dose. On the other hand, this supplementation had no effect on the ruminal fermentation of the floral stems and palm fronds. The exogenous fibrolytic enzymes were more effective on fibrous but not on lignified date palm by-products.