Pilot Study of the Effects of Polyphenols from Chestnut Involucre on Methane Production, Volatile Fatty Acids, and Ammonia Concentration during In Vitro Rumen Fermentation

Differences in Chemical Composition, Polyphenol Compounds, Antioxidant Activity, and In Vitro Rumen Fermentation among Sorghum Stalks

The aim of the study was to examine the differences in the chemical composition, polyphenol compounds, antioxidant activity, and in vitro rumen fermentation among six varieties of sorghum stalks. The results show that maoliangnuo 1 (M1) contained a higher (p < 0.05) level of dry matter, and jinzhong 405 (J4) contained a higher (p < 0.05) level of crude protein content. The concentrations of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and cellulose were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in stalk jinliangnuo (JN). The levels of chlorogenic acid, homoorientin, isovitexin, vitexin, rhoifolin, genistin, quercetin, apigenin, aloe emodin, emodin, and total polyphenols were all significantly (p < 0.05) higher in maohongnuo 6 (M6) than in the other stalks. Moreover, stalk M6 contained higher (p < 0.05) levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging capacity. There were significant (p < 0.05) positive correlations between total polyphenols and TAC, superoxide dismutase, GPX, CAT, and DPPH free-radical scavenging capacity. The total gas production was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by the sorghum stalk variety and incubation time. Stalk J4 displayed higher values for the (p < 0.05) immediately soluble fraction and the potential extent of gas production, while stalk M6 exhibited a significantly lower (p < 0.05) insoluble fraction level. Furthermore, stalk M6 exhibited a significantly higher level of (p < 0.05) ruminal fluid propionic acid, but its level of butyric acid and its ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid were both significantly lower (p < 0.05). Taken together, the results reported in this paper indicate that the chemical composition, polyphenol compounds, antioxidant activity, and in vitro rumen fermentation all vary greatly among different varieties of sorghum stalks.

Chestnut tannin extract modulates growth performance and fatty acid composition in finishing Tan lambs by regulating blood antioxidant capacity, rumen fermentation, and biohydrogenation

Tannins as plant extracts have emerged as promising and potential alternatives for antibiotics in modern livestock cultivation systems. This study investigates the effect of dietary chestnut tannin extract (CTE) in finishing Tan lambs. Twenty-seven male Tan lambs were randomly divided into three groups: (1) control group (CON; basal diet); (2) low-dose CTE group (LCTE; basal diet + 2 g/kg CTE, dry matter [DM] basis); (3) high-dose CTE group (HCTE; basal diet + 4 g/kg CTE, DM basis). The HCTE group exhibited markedly higher average daily gain (ADG) and DM intake than CON (P < 0.01). The ruminal total volatile fatty acid concentration increased linearly with increasing CTE supplementation (P < 0.01), while the opposite trend was observed for butyrate molar proportion (P < 0.01). Upon increasing CTE dosage, plasma glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase content increased linearly (P < 0.05), whereas low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and urea nitrogen decreased linearly or quadratically (P < 0.05), respectively. A linear increase was also observed in ruminal t6 C18:1 and t9, c12 C18:2 proportions (P < 0.01), and plasma C18:2n-6 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids proportions with increased CTE supplementation (P < 0.01). In the longissimus dorsi muscle, the atherogenic index decreased linearly (P < 0.05), while c11 C18:1 and C20:5n-3 increased linearly (P < 0.05). Moreover, c9, t11 conjugated linoleic acids proportion increased in subcutaneous fat with CTE supplementation (P < 0.01). In conclusion, Dietary CTE enhances the ADG of finishing Tan lambs in a dose-dependent manner, modulates plasma metabolites and antioxidant capacity, and improves rumen fermentation and body fatty acid composition. These results provide a reference for the rational application of CTE in ruminant production.

Effects of melatonin on rumen microorganisms and methane production in dairy cow: results from in vitro and in vivo studies

BACKGROUND

Methane (CH4) is a major greenhouse gas, and ruminants are one of the sources of CH4 which is produced by the rumen microbiota. Modification of the rumen microbiota compositions will impact the CH4 production. In this study, the effects of melatonin on methane production in cows were investigated both in the in vitro and in vivo studies.

RESULTS

Melatonin treatment significantly reduced methane production in both studies. The cows treated with melatonin reduced methane emission from their respiration by approximately 50%. The potential mechanisms are multiple. First, melatonin lowers the volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production in rumen and reduces the raw material for CH4 synthesis. Second, melatonin not only reduces the abundance of Methanobacterium which are responsible for generating methane but also inhibits the populations of protozoa to break the symbiotic relationship between Methanobacterium and protozoa in rumen to further lowers the CH4 production. The reduced VFA production is not associated with food intake, and it seems also not to jeopardize the nutritional status of the cows. This was reflected by the increased milk lipid and protein contents in melatonin treated compared to the control cows. It is likely that the energy used to synthesize methane is saved to compensate the reduced VFA production.

CONCLUSION

This study enlightens the potential mechanisms by which melatonin reduces rumen methane production in dairy cows. Considering the greenhouse effects of methane on global warming, these findings provide valuable information using different approaches to achieve low carbon dairy farming to reduce the methane emission. Video Abstract.

Recent advances in feed and nutrition of beef cattle in China - A review

The beef cattle industry in China has advanced remarkably since its reform and opening up; consequently, China has become the world's third-largest beef cattle producer. China is also one of the countries with the most substantial research input and output in the field of beef cattle feed and nutrition. The progress and innovation by China in the research field of beef cattle feed and nutrition have undoubtedly promoted the development of the domestic beef cattle industry. This review summarizes recent advances in feed resource development, nutrient requirements, and nutritional regulation of beef cattle in China. Limitations in current research and perspectives on future work are also discussed.

Castanea sativa Mill. Leaf: UHPLC-HR MS/MS Analysis and Effects on In Vitro Rumen Fermentation and Methanogenesis

Castanea sativa Mill. (Fagaceae) is a deciduous tree grown for its wood and edible fruits. Chestnut processing produces residues (burs, shells, and leaves) exploitable for their diversity in bioactive compounds in animal nutrition. In fact, plant-specialized metabolites likely act as rumen modifiers. Thus, the recovery of residual plant parts as feed ingredients is an evaluable strategy. In this context, European chestnut leaves from northern Germany have been investigated, proving to be a good source of flavonoids as well as gallo- and ellagitannins. To this purpose, an alcoholic extract was obtained and an untargeted profiling carried out, mainly by means of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HR MS/MS) techniques. To better unravel the polyphenol constituents, fractionation strategies were employed to obtain a lipophilic fraction and a polar one. This latter was highly responsive to total phenolic and flavonoid content analyses, as well as to antiradical (DPPH^● and ABTS^+●) and reducing activity (PFRAP) assays. The effect of the alcoholic extract and its fractions on rumen liquor was also evaluated in vitro in terms of fermentative parameter changes and impact on methanogenesis. The data acquired confirm that chestnut leaf extract and the fractions therefrom promote an increase in total volatile fatty acids, while decreasing acetate/propionate ratio and CH₄ production.

Polyphenols for Livestock Feed: Sustainable Perspectives for Animal Husbandry?

There is growing interest in specialized metabolites for fortification strategies in feed and/or as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial alternative for the containment of disorders/pathologies that can also badly impact human nutrition. In this context, the improvement of the diet of ruminant species with polyphenols and the influence of these compounds on animal performance, biohydrogenation processes, methanogenesis, and quality and quantity of milk have been extensively investigated through in vitro and in vivo studies. Often conflicting results emerge from a review of the literature of recent years. However, the data suggest pursuing a deepening of the role of phenols and polyphenols in ruminant feeding, paying greater attention to the chemistry of the single compound or to that of the mixture of compounds more commonly used for investigative purposes.

UHPLC-ESI-QqTOF Analysis and In Vitro Rumen Fermentation for Exploiting Fagus sylvatica Leaf in Ruminant Diet

In recent years, animal husbandry has aimed at improving the conditions of livestock animals useful for humans to solve environmental and health problems. The formulation of animal feeds or supplements based on antioxidant plant compounds is considered a valuable approach and an alternative for livestock productivity. Forest biomass materials are an underestimated source of polyphenolic compounds whose sustainable recovery could provide direct benefits to animals and, indirectly, human nutrition. In this context, an alcohol extract from leaves of Fagus sylvatica L. was first investigated through an untargeted ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS/MS) approach. Then, it was fractionated into a fatty acid-rich and a polyphenolic fraction, as evidenced by total lipid, phenol, and flavonoid content assays, with antiradical and reducing activity positively correlated to the latter. When tested in vitro with rumen liquor to evaluate changes in the fermentative parameters, a significant detrimental effect was exerted by the lipid-rich fraction, whereas the flavonoid-rich one positively modulated the production of volatile fatty acids (i.e., acetate, butyrate, propionate, etc.).