Effect of Palm Kernel Meal and Malic Acid on Rumen Characteristics of Growing Naemi Lambs Fed Total Mixed Ration

Effects of Feeding Different Levels of Sprouted Barley on Fermentation Characteristics, Bacterial Quantification, and Rumen Morphology of Growing Lambs

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of sprouted barley inclusion level on the growth performance, digestibility, volatile fatty acids, bacterial quantification, and rumen morphology of growing lambs. Five dietary treatments with sprouted barley (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) and nine replicates per dietary treatment were performed on forty-five Awassi lambs (90 days old). The average weight gain, intake, and digestibility of dry and organic matter were recorded. The pH, color, volatile fatty acids, bacterial quantification, and rumen histomorphometry were also determined. The results showed that the average dry and organic matter intake in T2 to T4 and the average weight gain in T4 decreased linearly. In contrast, the digestibility of dry and organic matter by sprouted barley (T2 to T4) was higher. The pH values and rumen color were not affected. Concentrations of formic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, and the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid were increased, while lactic acid and total volatile fatty acids were lower in all levels of sprouted barley. In addition, lambs fed T4 had a higher quantification of Anaerovibrio Lipolytica, Butyrivibrio Fibrisolvens, and Streptococcus Bovis quantification. Selenomonas Ruminantium was higher in T1, T2, and T4, whereas Megashpaera Elsdenii was lower in T1 to T3. The rumen histomorphometric was improved by sprouted barley (T2 and T3). Sprouted barley improved digestibility and rumen histomorphometry and increased the concentration of some volatile fatty acids and rumen bacteria but resulted in a decrease in average dry and organic matter intake, which negatively affected weight gain in lambs fed 100 % sprouted barley. Further studies are required to determine the potential effects on growing lambs fed sprouted barley.

Bio-Fermented Malic Acid Facilitates the Production of High-Quality Chicken via Enhancing Muscle Antioxidant Capacity of Broilers

Malic acid, an intermediate of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, is a promising acidifier with strong antioxidant capacity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of bio-fermented malic acid (BFMA) on promoting the body health, performance and meat quality of broilers. A total of 288 one-day-old Arbor Acres male broiler chicks were randomly divided into four treatments with six replicates in each. Every replicate had 12 chicks. Four experimental diets contained 0, 4, 8, and 12 g/kg BFMA, respectively. During the 42-day trial, mortality was recorded daily, feed intake and body weight of each replicate being recorded every week. Blood samples were collected on days 21 and 42 for chemical analysis. After slaughter at the age of 42 days, the carcass traits and meat quality of the broilers were measured, breast muscle samples were collected for the determination of antioxidant capacity, and cecal digesta were pretreated for microbiota analysis. Dietary BFMA significantly increased feed intake and daily gain, and decreased feed conversion ratio and death and culling ratio of the broilers at the earlier stage. The water-holding capacity of breast muscle indicated by the indexes of dripping loss and cooking loss was significantly increased by BFMA, especially at the addition level of 8 g/kg. Dietary BFMA significantly decreased the activity of superoxide dismutase and contents of immunoglobulin A and glutathione, and increased contents of immunoglobulin G and M in serum of the broilers. The contents of glutathione, inosinic acid, and total antioxidant capacity and the activities of glutathione-Px and superoxide dismutase were significantly increased by dietary BFMA, with the level of 8 g/kg best. The diversity of cecal microbiota of broilers was obviously altered by BFMA. In conclusion, as one of several acidifiers, addition of BFMA in diets could improve the performance and body health of broilers, probably by reinforcing immunity and perfecting cecal microbiota structure. As one of the intermediates of the TCA cycle, BFMA increases the water-holding capacity of breast muscle of broilers, probably through reducing lactate accumulates and enhancing antioxidant capacity.

Utilization of Waste Date Palm Leaves Biomass Ensiled with Malic or Lactic Acids in Diets of Farafra Ewes under Tropical Conditions

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the ensiling of date palm leaves (DPL) with organic acids (lactic or malic acid) for 45 day as a feed for lactating ewes under desert conditions. Two weeks before expected parturition, 50 multiparous lactating Farafra ewes (mean ± SD: 2 ± 0.3 parity, 34 ± 1.9 kg bodyweight, 25 ± 2.4 months of age, and 555 ± 13.0 g/day of previous milk production) were equally divided into five treatments in a completely randomized design for 90 day. The ewes in the control treatment were offered a diet composed of a concentrate feed mixture and DPL at 60:40 on a dry matter (DM) basis ensiled without additive. In the other treatments, DPL (ensiled without organic acids) in the control treatment was replaced with DPL ensiled with lactic or malic acid (at 5 g/kg DM) at 50 or 100% levels. Organic acids linearly and quadratically increased (p < 0.01) DPL and total intakes and digestibilities of DM, organic matter, crude protein, and nonstructural carbohydrates without affecting fiber digestibility. Malic and lactic acid treatment also increased the concentrations of ruminal total volatile fatty acids, acetate, propionate, and ammonia-N. Additionally, malic and lactic acid-treated DPL increased serum glucose concentration and total antioxidant capacity. Without affecting daily actual milk production, treatments increased (p < 0.001) the daily production of energy-corrected milk (ECM), fat-corrected milk (FCM), milk energy output, milk contents of fats, and feed efficiency. Organic acid-treated DPL increased (p < 0.05) the proportions of total polyunsaturated fatty acids and total conjugated linoleic acids and the unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio in milk. It is concluded that feeding DPL ensiled with malic or lactic acid at 20 or 40% of total diet DM increased daily ECM and FCM production, nutrient utilization efficiency, and milk quality. No differences were observed between lactic and malic acid treatment of DPL during ensiling; therefore, both of them are recommended to treat DPL for silage preparation.

De-oiled palm kernel cake for stall-fed buffaloes: effect on milk constituents, nutrient digestibility, biochemical parameters, and rumen fermentation

Palm kernel cake, the main by-product of the palm kernel oil extraction process, is a highly available and low-priced agro-industrial by-product. However, several concerns exist to arriving at a safe inclusion level, especially for buffaloes. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding de-oiled palm kernel cake (DPKC) to tropical buffaloes. In trial I, four fistulated Murrah buffaloes arranged in a 4 × 4 Latin square design were fed diets containing DPKC inclusions at 0, 15, 30, and 45% levels of compound feed to study their effects on rumen fermentation parameters. Trial II involves feeding twelve lactating buffaloes with DPKC inclusion levels at 0 or 15% of the compound feed to evaluate the effect of DPKC on the nutrient digestibility, serum biochemical constituents, rumen fermentation patterns, and lactation profile. The DPKC diets did not affect rumen pH, TCA-ppt nitrogen, and TVFA proportion; nevertheless, the NH₃-N data revealed a decreased trend (P = 0.076). The acetate fraction decreased linearly (P < 0.05) with increased DPKC diets. Replacing the conventional protein sources with DPKC at a 15% level did not influence the nutrient intake and digestibility coefficients. No significant effects were observed for serum biochemical and mineral profiles of the lactating buffaloes fed the DPKC diet. Neither milk yield nor milk constituents (SNF, total solids, density, lactose, protein) were altered with the diets fed, except for milk fat%, which tended to increase (P = 0.092) on feeding DPKC diets. All the lactation parameters varied with time of collection, and diet × time interactions were noticed for fat, density, protein, 6% FCM yield, and butterfat yield. The feed efficiency tended to increase (P = 0.070) in the buffaloes fed DPKC diets. The profit margins were ₹6.07 and ₹1.63 for the DPKC included diets and feed cost per Kg 6% FCMY, respectively. In  conclusion, the inclusion of DPKC in the diet decreases feed cost without affecting the nutrient intakes, digestibility coefficients, serum biochemical and mineral profile, and lactation parameters.

Effects of different levels of spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) supplementation on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites, and meat quality of growing Najdi lambs

In a 90-day study, 32 growing lambs aged 3 months were utilized to evaluate the effects of various levels of spirulina dietary supplement on productive performance, nutritional digestibility, and meat quality in growing Najdi lambs. The lambs were put into 4 groups of 8 lambs each at random. The diet consisted of a total mixed ration (TMR) without spirulina (CONT), and the TMR diet supplemented with spirulina at the levels of 2 ppm (SPP2), 4 ppm (SPP4), and 8 ppm (SPP8). The treatment groups, especially SPP8, showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in body weight and average daily gain (p < 0.05) compared to the CONT group. Dry matter intake and acid detergent fiber were also significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher in SPP8 compared to other treated groups and CONT. The N absorption, N retention, and percentage of N digestibility coefficient were greater (P < 0.05) in lambs in the treatment groups than in the CONT. Blood biochemistry variables were not significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affected by the treatments, with the exception of the serum concentration of triglyceride and bilirubin. Carcass profile and meat quality, including back fat, body wall fat, and cooking loss, were increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) with dietary spirulina. From the results of the present study, it was concluded that spirulina dietary supplementation at the level of 8 ppm increased weight gain, nutritional digestibility, nitrogen utilization, and meat composition in growing Najdi lambs.

Effect of zeolite supplementation on the dynamics of some trace elements and pigmentation of rumen in growing lambs

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding complete feed as total mixed ration (TMR) with two levels of zeolite on copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) status and rumen color of growing Naemi lambs. Twenty-four growing lambs (25 ± 2.1 kg body weight) were individually kept in separate pens with ad libitum feed and water. The lambs were randomly distributed to three treatments as follow: control, TMR diet only; T1, TMR with 1% zeolite daily; T2, TMR with 2% zeolite daily. The trial was lasted for 56 days. Four lambs from each treatment were slaughtered and tissue (liver, kidney, meat, and rumen tissues) and rumen fluid samples were collected. A significantly (P < 0.05) high concentration of Fe was found in T2 in blood and rumen fluid samples of lambs supplemented with zeolite. In the meat tissue, significantly (P < 0.05) high concentration of Zn was found in the treatment groups compared with the control, while Cu concentration decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in T1. In addition, rumen dark color was reduced in the zeolite-supplemented groups. We concluded that supplementation of zeolite at the rate of 1 or 2% did not appear to have any adverse effects on the blood profile of trace elements. Moreover, under these two levels of zeolite, discoloration of the rumen was significantly reduced in response to the supplementation of zeolite.