Associations of Protein Molecular Structures with Their Nutrient Supply and Biodegradation Characteristics in Different Byproducts of Seed-Used Pumpkin

Nutritional Evaluation of Milk Thistle Meal as a Protein Feedstuff for Diets of Dairy Cattle

The objective of this work is to investigate the chemical and nutritional value of milk thistle meal (MTM) in order to improve it and to provide theoretical support for its application in dairy cattle production. MTM was assessed in comparison with seven conventional protein feed sources, namely, soybean meal (SBM), cottonseed meal (CS), canola meal (CN), palm kernel meal (PK), rice bran meal (RB), corn germ meal (CG), and sesame meal (SS). The chemical composition of these feedstuffs was assessed using wet chemical analysis, the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System was used to evaluate the carbohydrate and protein fractions, and the in situ nylon bag technique and the modified three-step in vitro method were used to assess the rumen degradation and intestinal digestibility. Additionally, Fourier transform infrared technology was used to determine the feedstuff protein spectral molecular structure and its amino acid profile was also assessed. The result showed that MTM acid detergent fiber, lignin, unavailable nitrogen, and non-degradable carbohydrate content were higher than those of the other feedstuffs. It had a 17% and 36% rumen effective degradation rate of neutral detergent fiber and dry matter, respectively, and had the lowest small intestinal rumen undegradable protein digestibility rate. It was low in leucine, histidine, arginine, and proline, but high in methionine. The total area of amide I and amide II in the protein secondary structure was similar to that of CN and CS, and the amide I and II ratio was not different from that of RB. To sum up, MTM has a poor carbohydrate composition and is high in fiber but, in comparison to most other protein feeds, has a higher crude protein rumen effective degradation rate, similar to that of SBM, and it is a good source of methionine, a limiting amino acid. Hence, its nutritional value can be further improved for application in dairy feeding through processes such as microbial or enzymatic fermentation.

Research updates and progress on nutritional significance of the amides I and II, alpha-helix and beta-sheet ratios, microbial protein synthesis, and steam pressure toasting condition with globar and synchrotron molecular microspectroscopic techniques with chemometrics

This article aims to review research updates and progress on the nutritional significance of the amides I and II, the alpha-helix and beta-sheet ratios, the microbial protein synthesis, and the steam pressure toasting condition in food and feed with globar and synchrotron molecular microspectroscopic techniques plus chemometrics (both univariate and multivariate techniques). The review focused on (I) impact of the amides I and II, and the alpha-helix and beta-sheet-structure ratios in food and feeds; (II) Current research progress and update in synchrotron technique and application in feed and food molecular structure studies that are associated with nutrition delivery; (III) Impact of thermal processing- steam pressure toasting condition on feed and food; (IV). Impact of the microbial protein synthesis and methodology on feed and food; and (V). Impact on performance and production of ruminants with Faba beans.

Replacing soybean meal with high-oil pumpkin seed cake in the diet of lactating Holstein dairy cows modulated rumen bacteria and milk fatty acid profile

This research aimed to investigate the effects of replacing soybean meal with high-oil pumpkin seed cake (HOPSC) on ruminal fermentation, lactation performance, milk fatty acid, and ruminal bacterial community in Chinese dairy cows. Six multiparous Chinese Holstein cows at 105.50 ± 5.24 d in milk (mean ± standard deviation) and 36.63 ± 0.74 kg/d of milk yield were randomly allocated, in a 3 × 3 Latin square design, to 3 dietary treatments in which HOPSC replaced soybean meal. Group 1 was the basal diet with no HOPSC (0HOPSC); group 2 was a 50% replacement of soybean meal with HOPSC and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS; 50HOPSC), and group 3 was a 100% replacement of soybean meal with HOPSC and DDGS (100HOPSC). We found no difference in the quantity of milk produced or milk composition among the 3 treatment groups. Feed efficiency tended to increase linearly as more HOPSC was consumed. In addition, rumen fermentation was not influenced when soybean meal was replaced with HOPSC and DDGS; the relative abundance of ruminal bacteria at the phylum and genus levels was altered. We also observed that as the level of HOPSC supplementation increased, the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Tenericutes linearly increased, whereas that of Bacteroidetes decreased. However, with increasing HOPSC supplementation, the relative abundance of Ruminococcus decreased linearly at the genus level in the rumen, and the relative abundance of Prevotella showed a linear downward tendency. Changes in dietary composition and rumen bacteria had no significant effect on the fatty acid composition of milk. In conclusion, our results indicated that replacing soybean meal with a combination of HOPSC and DDGS can meet the nutritional needs of high-yielding dairy cows without adversely affecting milk yield and quality; however, the composition of rumen bacteria could be modified. Further study is required to investigate the effects of long-term feeding of HOPSC on rumen fermentation and performance of dairy cows.

Nutritional Values of Industrial Hemp Byproducts for Dairy Cattle

The objective of this experiment was to explore the nutritional components of industrial hemp byproducts (industrial hemp ethanol extraction byproduct, IHEEB; industrial hemp stalk, IHS; industrial hemp seed meal, IHSM; industrial hemp oil filter residue, IHOFR) and provide theoretical support for the application of industrial hemp byproducts in dairy cattle production. This experiment used a combination of a wet chemical method with Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System, in situ nylon bag technique, and three-step in vitro method to compare the chemical composition, carbohydrate and protein composition, in situ ruminal degradability and intestinal digestibility of industrial hemp byproducts and conventional feeds (alfalfa hay, AH; soybean meal, SBM). Available energy values were estimated based on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The results showed that the nutritional composition of different feeds varied greatly. The two types of IHEEB were enriched with ash, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and calcium, while the contents of neutral detergent insoluble crude protein, acid detergent insoluble crude protein, and acid detergent lignin were higher. As a result, the non-degradable carbohydrate and protein components were higher, and the effective degradation rate of rumen dry matter and protein was lower. IHS contains higher non-protein nitrogen and NDF, which enables it to provide more CP rumen effective degradation rate and carbohydrates, but the high acid detergent fiber also limits its application. IHSM possesses 296 g/kg CP and high rumen undegradable protein and intestinal digested protein, which can provide rumen bypass protein in dairy cows, making it a potentially good protein source. IHOFR had higher ether extract, rumen available protein degradation rate, and total tract digested protein, which can provide more energy and easily degradable protein for lactating cows. The available energy value of IHEEB and IHS was lower than AH, while SBM is between IHFOR and IHSM. In addition, the tetrahydrocannabinol of three industrial hemp byproducts that have not been assessed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was tested to evaluate their safety, and all of them were less than the limit set by ESFA. In conclusion, industrial hemp byproducts can be considered for inclusion in dietary formulations as unconventional feed sources for dairy cattle, but the purpose of use needs to be properly considered.