Coffee grounds. I. Effects of coffee grounds on ration digestibility and diuresis in cattle, on in vitro rumen fermentation, and on rat growth

Microbial metabolism of caffeine and potential applications in bioremediation

With increasing global consumption of caffeine-rich products, such as coffee, tea, and energy drinks, there is also an increase in urban and processing waste full of residual caffeine with limited disposal options. This waste caffeine has been found to leach into the surrounding environment where it poses a threat to microorganisms, insects, small animals, and entire ecosystems. Growing interest in harnessing this environmental contaminant has led to the discovery of 79 bacterial strains, eight yeast strains, and 32 fungal strains capable of metabolizing caffeine by N-demethylation and/or C-8 oxidation. Recently observed promiscuity of caffeine-degrading enzymes in vivo has opened up the possibility of engineering bacterial strains capable of producing a wide variety of caffeine derivatives from a renewable resource. These engineered strains can be used to reduce the negative environmental impact of leached caffeine-rich waste through bioremediation efforts supplemented by our increasing understanding of new techniques such as cell immobilization. Here, we compile all of the known caffeine-degrading microbial strains, discuss their metabolism and related enzymology, and investigate their potential application in bioremediation.

Evaluation of Valorisation Strategies to Improve Spent Coffee Grounds' Nutritional Value as an Ingredient for Ruminants' Diets

Lignin in animal diets is a limiting factor due to its low digestibility. This study assessed the effects of thermal or mechanical pre-treatments and enzymatic hydrolysis on spent coffee grounds' (SCG) nutritional value and digestibility. A first trial studied the effect of thermal pre-treatment and hydrolysis with removal of the liquid part and a second trial studied mechanical pre-treatment and hydrolysis with and without removal of the liquid part. Autoclaving did not improve the enzymatic performance nor the nutritional value. Hydrolysis reduced the digestibility of the solid phase and impaired its ruminal fermentation efficiency. Hydrolysates without removing the liquid part improved its nutritional value, but not compared with unprocessed SCG. Grinding increased crude protein and reduced crude fibre and protein, which led to greater fermentation and in vitro digestibility. Thus, grinding emerges as the most promising valorisation strategy to improve SCG nutritional characteristics and their use for animal feed, contributing to the circular economy.

Supplementing pregnant Merino ewes with caffeine to improve neonatal lamb thermoregulation and viability

Percentages of lamb mortalities prior to weaning are a significant and persistent problem for the Australian sheep industry. Maternal caffeine supplementation reduced stillbirths and improved viability in piglets; however, the efficacy of caffeine in enhancing viability and lamb survival is equivocal. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal concentration and duration of maternal caffeine supplementation to improve lamb viability; time to stand and suck with consumption of colostrum occurring, as well as survival to weaning. Multiparous Merino ewes were supplemented with either 0 (CTL), 10 (C10) or 20 mg/kg (C20) body weight (BW) caffeine in feed after day 120 of gestation (dG), or 20 mg/kg BW (LC20) caffeine from dG 142 until parturition. Ewes were housed indoors in individual lambing pens from dG 130 to 72 -h post-partum (pp). Values for pp ewe and lamb variables were analysed using a generalised linear mixed model in IBM SPSS version 25. While ewes within the CTL, C10 and LC20 groups consumed more caffeine compared to C20 ewes (P =  0.001), lambs of C20 ewes had greater rectal temperatures at 20 -h pp (P =  0.021), greater 4 -h serum IgG concentrations (P =  0.041), a longer latency to first sucking bout (P =  0.030), and a greater number of sucking attempts (P =  0.044) compared to lambs from CTL, C10 and LC20 ewes. These results indicate that caffeine supplementation during late-gestation stimulates neonatal lambs as a result of increased sucking (4 -h serum IgG) and increased temperatures within the first 24 -h.

Caffeine: A potential strategy to improve survival of neonatal pigs and sheep

Caffeine is commonly used to treat pre-and postnatal injuries, including apnoea in premature infants, as well as neurological impairment caused by hypoxia or asphyxiation often associated with difficult birthing. As an adenosine antagonist, caffeine is metabolised rapidly and transported into many tissues. Caffeine stimulates the brain respiratory centre, improving respiratory function in immature infants or neonates, provides neuroprotection to the fetal brain, and initiates non-shivering thermoregulation increasing metabolic rates. Recently, potential benefits of caffeine for animal production have been investigated. This has particularly occurred in pig production, where large litters are associated with relatively long parturition durations, and piglets born near the end of the parturition period have an increased risk of mortality due to asphyxia-related birthing injury. Similarly, in sheep, dystocia or prolonged parturition is a significant problem, where neonatal injury, dystocia and death in utero contributes to approximately 46 % of lamb mortalities. Within these two livestock production systems, large prevalence's of neonatal mortality is a persistent issue contributing to lost revenue, as well as being a significant animal welfare concern. Pre-partum maternal caffeine supplementation is a promising strategy to reduce neonatal mortality; however, there needs to be refinement of appropriate quantities administered, duration and administration pathway to provide producers with an efficient and cost-effective method to reduce mortality rates and increase production output. The information in this review details effects, benefits and important considerations regarding caffeine use in animal production, and identifies areas of limited knowledge where further research is needed.

Spent Coffee Grounds Alter Bacterial Communities in Latxa Dairy Ewes

Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of spent coffee grounds (SCG) make them a potential ingredient in a diet for ruminants. This study investigated the effects of SCG on rumen microbiota. For 51 days, 36 dairy ewes were assigned to the experimental treatments (0, 30, 50, and 100 g SCG/kg). Ruminal samples were collected on day 50. DNA was extracted and subjected to paired-end Illumina sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA genes. Bioinformatic analyses were performed using QIIME (v.1.9.0). SCG increased dose-dependently bacterial diversity and altered bacterial structure. Further, 60, 78, and 449 operational taxonomic unit (OUT) were different between control and 30, 50 and 100 g/kg SCG groups, respectively. Higher differences were observed between the control and 100 g/kg SCG group, where OTU of the genera Treponema, CF231, Butyrivibrio, BF331, Anaeroplasma, Blautia, Fibrobacter, and Clostridium were enriched with SCG. Correlations between volatile fatty acids (VFA) and bacterial taxa were sparser in the SCG groups and had little overlap. Certain bacterial taxa presented different signs of the correlation with VFA in SCG and control groups, but Butyrivibrio and Blautia consistently correlated with branched-chain VFA in all groups. SCG induced shifts in the ruminal bacterial community and altered the correlation networks among bacterial taxa and ruminal VFA.

The Role of ICT in Supporting Spent Coffee Grounds Collection and Valorization: A Quantitative Assessment

As never before, there is nowadays the will to consider alternative energy sources from renewable and waste materials so as to preserve planet and society. One of the possible elements suitable for this purpose is every day in our houses: Coffee. Or rather, spent coffee grounds. Indeed, many studies in recent years have addressed its potential exploitation, especially for biodiesel production; recent works also pointed out its possible thermal valorization for industrial processes. In light of this, this paper proposes a new sustainable use of spent coffee grounds, converted into combustible pellets; this source can then be used not only for industrial heaters, but also for public or private buildings. To this end, a feasibility study of a pellet production plant fed by waste collected by vending companies operating in the North of Italy is developed, including the logistic model supported by an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) system to help gather spent coffee grounds from the different companies and collect them into the pellet production facility.

Effect of fermented spent instant coffee grounds on milk productivity and blood profiles of lactating dairy cows

Objective

This study was conducted to evaluate the fermentation characteristics under low mesophilic temperature of spent instant coffee ground (SICG) and to estimate the effect of fermented SICG (FSICG) as alternative feed ingredient on milk productivity of dairy cows.

Methods

In the fermentation trial, fermentation of SICG was performed to investigate changes in characteristics using the microbial mixture (Lactobacillus plantarum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Bacillus subtilis = 1:1:1) for 21 days at 20°C under anaerobic conditions. Molasses was added at 5% of dry mass. In the animal trial, eighteen Holstein Friesian cows were used to evaluate the nutritive value of the FSICG which was fermented for 14 days under the same condition as the fermentation trial.

Results

In the fermentation trial, the dry matter (DM) and organic matter content linearly decreased with fermentation time (p<0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively). The acid detergent insoluble nitrogen content linearly decreased with fermentation time (p = 0.037). The microorganism counts linearly increased for Lactobacillus plantarum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Bacillus subtilis across fermentation time (p<0.001). In the animal trial, the DM intake of the control and FSICG treatment were not significantly different, as were milk yield, 4% fat corrected milk, fat-protein corrected milk, and feed to milk conversion content. Fat, protein, lactose, non-fat solids, milk urea nitrogen, and somatic cell counts were also not significantly different in milk composition between treatments.

Conclusion

FSICG should be considered a sufficient substitute for cottonseed as a feed component, and 5% DM of a dietary FSICG level was appropriate for dairy cow diets.

Effects of dietary fermented spent coffee ground on nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization in sheep

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of fermented spent coffee ground (FSCG) on nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization in sheep.

METHODS

Fermentation of spent coffee ground (SCG) was conducted using Lactobacillus plantrum. Fermentation was performed at moisture content of 70% and temperature of 39°C with anaerobic air tension for 48 h. Four adult rams (initial body weight = 56.8±0.4 kg) were housed in a respiration-metabolism chamber and the treatments were: i) control (Basal diet; 0% SCG or FSCG), ii) 10% level of SCG, iii) 10% level of FSCG, and iv) 20% level of FSCG in 4×4 Latin square design. Each dietary experiment period lasted for 18-d with a 14-d of adaptation period and a 4-d of sample collection period.

RESULTS

In SCG fermentation experimental result, acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) concentration of FSCG (64.5% of total N) was lower than that of non-fermented SCG (78.8% of total N). Digestibility of dry matter and organic matter was similar among treatment groups. Although crude protein (CP) digestibility of the control was greater than FSCG groups (p< 0.05), the 10% FSCG group showed greater CP digestibility and nitrogen retention than non-fermented 10% SCG group (p<0.05). Body weight gain and average daily gain were linearly decreased with increasing FSCG feeding level (p<0.05). When the feeding level of FSCG was increased, water intake was linearly increased (p<0.05). With an increasing FSCG level, dry matter intake did not differ among groups, although the gain to feed ratio tended to decrease with increasing level of FSCG (p<0.10).

CONCLUSION

Microbial fermentation of SCG can improve protein digestibility, thereby increasing CP digestibility and nitrogen utilization in sheep. Fermentation using microorganisms in feed ingredients with low digestibility could have a positive effect on improving the quality of raw feed.

Evaluation of nutritional and economic feed values of spent coffee grounds and Artemisia princeps residues as a ruminant feed using in vitro ruminal fermentation

Much research on animal feed has focused on finding alternative feed ingredients that can replace conventional ones (e.g., grains and beans) to reduce feed costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the economic, as well as nutritional value of spent coffee grounds (SCG) and Japanese mugwort (Artemisia princeps) residues (APR) as alternative feed ingredients for ruminants. We also investigated whether pre-fermentation using Lactobacillus spp. was a feasible way to increase the feed value of these by-products. Chemical analyses and an in vitro study were conducted for SCG, APR, and their pre-fermented forms. All the experimental diets for in vitro ruminal fermentation were formulated to contain a similar composition of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and total digestible nutrients at 1x maintenance feed intake based on the dairy National Research Council (NRC). The control diet was composed of ryegrass, corn, soybean meal, whereas the treatments consisted of SCG, SCG fermented with Lactobacillus spp. (FSCG), APR, and its fermented form (FAPR). The treatment diets replaced 100 g/kg dry matter (DM) of the feed ingredients in the control. Costs were lower for the all treatments, except FAPR, than that of the control. After 24-h incubation, the NDF digestibility of the diets containing SCG and its fermented form were significantly lower than those of the other diets (P < 0.01); pre-fermentation tended to increase NDF digestibility (P = 0.07), especially for APR. Supplementation of SCG significantly decreased total gas production (ml/g DM) after 24-h fermentation in comparison with the control (P < 0.05); however, there were no significant differences between the control and the SCG or the APR diets in total gas production, as expressed per Korean Won (KRW). Diets supplemented with SCG or FSCG tended to have a higher total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, expressed as per KRW, compared with the control (P = 0.06). Conversely, the fermentation process of SCG and APR significantly decreased total gas production and VFA production as expressed per KRW (P < 0.05). Because of their nutrient composition and relatively lower cost, we concluded that SCG and APR could be used as alternative feed sources, replacing conventional feed ingredients. However, pre-fermentation of agricultural by-products, such as SCG and APR, may be inappropriate for improving their nutritive considering the increase in production costs.

Coffee and its waste repel gravid Aedes albopictus females and inhibit the development of their embryos

BACKGROUND

Dengue is a prevalent arboviral disease and the development of insecticide resistance among its vectors impedes endeavors to control it. Coffee is drunk by millions of people daily worldwide, which is associated with the discarding of large amounts of waste. Coffee and its waste contain large amounts of chemicals many of which are highly toxic and none of which have a history of resistance in mosquitoes. Once in solution, coffee is brownish in colour, resembling leaf infusion, which is highly attractive to gravid mosquitoes. To anticipate the environmental issues related to the increasing popularity of coffee as a drink, and also to combat insecticide resistance, we explored the deterrence potentials of coffee leachates against the ovipositing and embryonic stages of the dengue vector, Aedes albopictus.

METHODS

In a series of choice, no-choice, and embryo toxicity bioassays, we examined changes in the ovipositional behaviours and larval eclosion of Ae. albopictus in response to coffee extracts at different concentrations.

RESULTS

Oviposition responses were extremely low when ovicups holding highly concentrated extract (HCE) of coffee were the only oviposition sites. Gravid females retained increased numbers of mature eggs until 5 days post-blood feeding. When provided an opportunity to oviposit in cups containing coffee extracts and with water, egg deposition occurred at lower rates in those containing coffee, and HCE cups were far less attractive to females than those containing water only. Females that successfully developed in a coffee environment preferentially oviposited in such cups when in competition with preferred oviposition sites (water cups), but this trait did not continue into the fourth generation. Larval eclosion occurred at lower rates among eggs that matured in a coffee environment, especially among those that were maintained on HCE-moistened substrates.

CONCLUSIONS

The observations of the present study indicate a pronounced vulnerability of Ae. albopictus to the presence of coffee in its habitats during the early phases of its life cycle. The observations that coffee repels gravid females and inhibits larval eclosion provide novel possibilities in the search for novel oviposition deterrents and anti-larval eclosion agents against dengue vectors.

Fermentation quality and nutritive value of a total mixed ration silage containing coffee grounds at ten or twenty percent of dry matter

Six wethers were used in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square to study the fermentation quality and nutritive value of total mixed ration (TMR) silages that included wet coffee grounds (WCG). The TMR were prepared using a commercial compound feed, timothy hay, alfalfa hay, dried beet pulp, and a vitamin-mineral supplement in a ratio of 36.5:30:20:12:1.5, respectively, on a DM basis, with timothy hay and alfalfa hay being replaced by WCG at 0, 10, or 20%. All TMR silages, irrespective of WCG addition, were well preserved, with a low pH and ammonia-N content and a high lactic acid content. Intakes by wethers of TMR silages containing 0 and 10% WCG were 96.6 and 94.8 g/kg of BW(0.75), and did not differ (P > 0.05). Intake of TMR silage containing 20% WCG was 76.8 g/kg of BW(0.75), which was equal to 80% of that of the TMR silage with no WCG (quadratic: P < 0.01). Increasing concentrations of WCG in the rations decreased the digestibility of DM, CP, ADF, NDF, and energy, and increased that of ether extract (P < 0.05). The TDN and DE contents of the TMR silages with 0 and 10% WCG were similar, but the TMR silage with 20% WCG was lower (P < 0.05). With progressive increases in WCG concentrations, N intake did not differ, but fecal and urinary N increased linearly (P < 0.001), and retained N decreased linearly (P < 0.001). This study demonstrated that the proportion of WCG to be incorporated into TMR silages should not exceed 10% of the DM.

Do Naïve Ruminants Degrade Alkaloids in the Rumen?

Three different methods for the culture of rumen microorganisms (Hungate's technique, the Hohenheim in vitro gas production method, and the semicontinuous rumen simulation technique) were employed to study the influence of various alkaloids (sparteine, lupanine, cytisine, atropine, quinidine, lobeline, harmaline, arecoline, nicotine, caffeine, pilocarpine, gramine, senecionine, and monocrotaline) on rumen microorganisms. Rumen micro-organisms from naive ruminants (sheep, cattle) that had not been exposed to the alkaloids before were generally not able to degrade most of the alkaloids. Only the alkaloids pilocarpine, gramine, and monocrotaline appeared to be degradable. Rumen microorganisms from a sheep preconditioned to lupin alkaloids tolerated lupanine much better than nonadapted microorganisms, but no degradation occurred. The findings indicate that the main site of detoxification in naive ruminants is not the rumen but more likely the liver and kidneys as in nonruminants.