Effect of Cellulase and Tannase Enzymes Supplemention on the Productive Performance of Lactating Buffaloes Fed Diets Contain Date Palm Fronds

Lactational performance and nutrients digestibility response of dairy buffaloes fed diets supplemented with probiotic (Streptococcus spp.) and fibrolytic enzymes

The current study was conducted to explore the productive performance and health status of lactating buffaloes fed diets supplemented with probiotic and/or fibrolytic enzymes. Forty multiparous lactating Egyptian buffaloes (body weight 451 ± 8.5 kg) were equally assigned to four experimental groups: (1) the first group fed control diet, (2) second experimental group fed control diet plus 4 g of probiotic/kg dry matter (DM) (probiotic), (3) third experimental group fed control diet plus 4 g of fibrolytic enzymes/kg DM (enzymes) and (4) fourth experimental group fed control diet plus 2 g of probiotic + 2 g fibrolytic enzymes/kg DM (Mix), The experiment was extended for 63 days. Nutrients digestibility was estimated, daily milk yield was recorded and milk samples were analyzed for total solids, fat protein, lactose and ash. Blood serum samples were analyzed for glucose, total protein, albumin, urea-N, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and cholesterol concentrations. Results showed that adding probiotic and/or fibrolytic enzymes improved nutrients digestibility (p < 0.05). The probiotic, enzymes and mix groups did not affect (p > 0.05) concentrations of serum total protein, albumin (A), globulin (G), albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio and urea-N concentrations. An improvement in daily milk yield (p < 0.0001) and energy-corrected milk (p = 0.0146) were observed with the probiotic and mix groups compared with the control. In conclusion, this study suggests that supplementing lactating buffaloes' diets with probiotic alone or in combination with fibrolytic enzymes would improve their productive performance without adversely impacting their health.

Effect of increasing doses of neem (Azadirachta indica) seed oil on feed intake, nutrients digestibility, ruminal fermentation and nitrogen utilization of Omani sheep

This study was conducted to examine the effects of neem (Azadirachta indica) seed oil (NSO) on feed intake, ruminal fermentability, feed digestibility, nitrogen balance, and blood parameters in Omani sheep. Nine Omani male sheep (BW; 54.44 ± 8 kg/sheep) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin Square design with three dietary treatments and three periods, with each period lasting 21 days. The animals were randomly assigned into three treatment groups: basal diet without NSO (control); 20 mL/sheep per day NSO (low dose) or 40 mL/sheep per day NSO (high dose). Sheep fed with high dose presented lower (p < 0.05) intake, fiber digestibility, and excreted N in urine. However, diet supplemented with high NSO dose had a lower (p < 0.05) ruminal acetate proportion, while increased (p < 0.05) ruminal propionate compared to the control group. Moreover, sheep offered with NSO showed a linear decrease (p = 0.052) in ruminal ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) concentration. The high dose increased (p < 0.05) blood glucose and cholesterol, while decreased urea nitrogen concentrations. Emission of predicted methane (CH₄) reduced (p = 0.007) by 13% for high dose compared to the control group. In conclusion, these results suggested that NSO is a potential feed additive with up to 20 ml/kg of DM alters rumen fermentation profile, decreased CH₄ production, feed digestibility, and nitrogen metabolism for sheep.

The sustainable mitigation of in vitro ruminal biogas emissions by ensiling date palm leaves and rice straw with lactic acid bacteria and Pleurotus ostreatus for cleaner livestock production

AIMS

The sustainable utilization of date palm leaves (DPL) and rice straw (RS) as feed materials for ruminant was evaluated using an in vitro wireless gas production technique.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Date palm leaves and RS were individually ensiled with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) for 45 d or used as substrates for the cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus (PO) mushroom for 35 d. A total mixed ration was formulated as a control ration. In the other rations, berseem hay replaced DPL (ensiled without additives or ensiled with lactic acid bacteria or PO) at 25, 50, 75 and 100%. Ensiling with LAB did not affect the chemical composition of DPL or RS, while PO treatment reduced their fiber fractions contents. Ensiling without additives lowered (P<0.05) the asymptotic production of total gas, methane (CH₄ ) and carbon dioxide (CO₂ ), and the rate of CH₄ and CO₂ while increasing (P<0.05) the lag time of CH₄ and CO₂ production. Ensiling of materials with LAB and treatment with PO decreased (P<0.05) the asymptotic production of total gas, CH₄ and CO₂ production and decreased the rate of CH₄ and CO₂ production. Ensiling without additives decreased (P<0.05) total bacterial count, and increased (P<0.05) fermentation pH and total volatile fatty acids (VFA), while LAB ensiled DPL increased (P<0.05) total VFA and propionate concentrations and decreased total protozoal count. The PO treated DPL decreased (P<0.05) bacterial count, protozoal count and fermentation pH and increased total VFA production.

CONCLUSIONS

Replacing berseem hay with LAB or PO treated DPL at 25% increased gas production; however, increased CH₄ and CO₂ production, while the other replacement levels decreased total gas, CH₄ and CO₂ production. The treatment with LAB is more recommended than the PO treatment.

Enhancing the Utilization of Palm Leaf Hay Using Bacillus subtilis and Phanerochaete chrysosporium in the Diet of Lambs Under Desert Conditions

The efficiency of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis and white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium on growth performance, blood metabolites, carcass characteristics, meat composition and nutrient digestibility of lambs fed crushed whole palm leaf hay was investigated for 105 d. In Experiment 1 (Growth experiment), twenty-four lambs (29.5 ± 1.25 kg) were divided into four feed-based treatments: (1) concentrate and wheat straw ad libitum (control), (2) palm leaf hay (DPL), (3) palm leaf hay supplemented with 2 g of B. subtilis and P. chrysosporium (DPL2) or (4) palm leaf hay supplemented with 4 g of B. subtilis and P. chrysosporium (DPL4). In Experiment 2 (Digestibility experiment), twelve rams, three from each treatment, were used to study nutrient digestibility using the faecal bag technique. Results of the Experiment 1 showed that the DPL4 showed greater (P=0.049) live-weight gain than the control. The diets containing palm leaf hay showed lower (P=0.001) roughage and total feed intake and higher (P=0.001) feed efficiency than the control. Increased serum total protein, globulin, urea-N, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were observed with the DPL4 (P˂0.05). Additionally, diets containing palm leaf hay showed higher ALT levels than the control. The DPL4 increased the hot carcass weight (P=0.006) and dressing percentage (P=0.036), and the diets supplemented with B. subtilis and P. chrysosporium decreased (P˂0.05) the tail fat and all fat levels compared with the DPL treatment. Results of the Experiment 2 showed that nutrient digestibility was lower (P˂0.05) with the DPL and DPL2 than with the control and DPL4. Compared with the control, nutrient digestibility of DPL4 was not affected. It is concluded that replacement of wheat straw with palm leaf hay did not affect the feed utilization or animal performance of the lambs; however, supplementation with B. subtilis and P. chrysosporium at 4 g/lamb daily enhanced the growth performance, and carcass characteristics without any adverse effects on blood metabolites.

Effects of enzyme + bacteria treatment on growth performance, rumen bacterial diversity, KEGG pathways, and the CAZy spectrum of Tan sheep

In this study, the effects of enzyme +bacteria treatment of buckwheat straw and alfalfa on growth performance and rumen bacterial diversity was investigated, 20 three-month-old Ningxia Tan sheep with similar body weights were selected and randomly divided into two groups, 10 sheep in each group. The control group was fed with basal diet + untreated buckwheat straw and alfalfa (the ratio of buckwheat to alfalfa was 2:8), and the experimental group was fed with basic diet + cellulase (enzyme activity ≥ 10,000 U/g) + compound probiotics (enzyme to bacteria ratio 8:20). 1) The total weight gain and average daily gain of Tan sheep in the experimental group were extremely significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01). 2). The proportion of Firmicutes in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). 3). In the KEGG pathway B level, 15 genes were significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). 4). In the CAZy level B, 12 genes were upregulated in the experimental group compared with the control group (P < 0.05),3 genes were downregulated (P < 0.05).Feeding Tan sheep with buckwheat straw and alfalfa treated with enzyme and bacteria can improve the weight gain effect, change the rumen bacterial diversity, and increase the some functional genes in the rumen. The conditions of this experiment would be beneficial to the healthy breeding of Tan sheep, and thus the methods can be used in commercial production.

Potentials of patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) essential oil on ruminal methanogenesis, feed degradability, and enzyme activities in vitro

The effects of patchouli essential oil (PEO) as an alternative to antibiotics on ruminal methanogenesis, feed degradability, and enzyme activities were evaluated. The basal substrate was incubated without additives (control, CTL) and with monensin (MON, 6 μM/g DM) or patchouli essential oil (PEO, 90 μg/g DM) for 24 h. In three different runs, the gas production (GP) was recorded at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h of incubation using a semi-automatic system. The results revealed that MON had decreased (P < 0.05) the net GP and CH₄ production and digestible and metabolizable energy relative to PEO supplementation. The in vitro truly degraded organic matter was not influenced by PEO application, while was reduced (P = 0.027) with MON. Both PEO and MON had similar reducing effect on the activity of carboxymethylcellulase (P = 0.030), in vitro truly degraded neutral detergent fiber (P = 0.010), NH₃-N concentrations (P = 0.012), acetate proportion (C2, P = 0.046), C2 to C3 ratio (P = 0.023), and total protozoal count (P = 0.017). Both additives recorded similar elevating potential on the α-amylase activity (P = 0.012), propionate (C3) proportion (P = 0.011), and microbial protein (P = 0.034) compared with CTL. Effects of MON and PEO on ruminal feed degradability, microbial enzyme activities, and total protozoa counts may be responsible for modifying rumen fermentation ecology. Addition of PEO may act as a desirable alternative rumen modifier for MON in ruminant diets.

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.