Evaluation of Megasphaera elsdenii supplementation on rumen fermentation, production performance, carcass traits and health of ruminants: A meta-analysis

Objective

This study was conducted to evaluate the use of Megasphaera elsdenii as a probiotic on rumen fermentation, production performance, carcass traits and health of ruminants by integrating data from various related studies using meta-analysis.

Methods

A total of 32 studies (consisted of 136 data points) were obtained and integrated into a database. The parameters integrated were fermentation products, rumen microbes, production performance, carcass quality, animal health, blood and urine metabolites. Statistical analysis of the compiled database used a mixed model methodology. Different studies were considered random effects, while M. elsdenii supplementation doses were considered fixed effects. P-values and the Akaike information criterion were employed as model statistics. The model was deemed significant at p < 0.05 or had a tendency to be significant when p-value between 0.05 < p < 0.10.

Results

Supplementation with M. elsdenii increased (p<0.05) some proportion of fermented rumen products such as propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, and valerate, and significantly reduced (p<0.05) lactic acid concentration, acetate proportion, total bacterial population and methane emission. Furthermore, the probiotic supplementation enhanced (p<0.05) livestock production performance, especially in the average daily gain and body condition score. Regarding the carcass quality, hot carcass weight and carcass gain were elevated (p<0.05) due to the M. elsdenii supplementation. Animal health also showed improvement as indicated by the lower (p<0.05) diarrhoea and bloat incidences as well as the liver abscess. However, M. elsdenii supplementation had negligible effects on blood and urine metabolites of ruminants.

Conclusion

Supplementation of M. elsdenii is capable of decreasing ruminal lactic acid concentration, enhancing rumen health, elevating some favourable rumen fermentation products, and in turn, increasing production performance of ruminants.

EFFECT OF COMPACTED FORAGE FEED ON KUPANG CATTLE FEEDING BEHAVIOR

Forage compact feed has the ability to cut the adaptation period of grazing cattle when transported, because they are used to consume forage. The effect of the form and type of forage formulation on the feeding behavior of cattle needs to be studied further to determine the preferences of cattle for this compact feed. This study used 36 cattle with 3 replications in each treatment. The 2 factor group factorial design consisting formulation and form of feed was applied in this study. The forms of feed used in this study were wafers, pellets, dried pellets, and cubes. The formulations used in this study were formulation 1 (10% molasses, 30% indigofera leaves, 50% straw, 10% elephant grass); formulation 2 (10% molasses, 30% indigofera leaves, 60% straw); formulation 3 (10% molasses, 20% indigofera leaves, 65% straw, 5% hemp). The parameters observed in this study were eating behavior of cattle which consisted of the frequency and duration of eating, drinking, rumination, and resting. The results were, there is an interaction on eating frequency and cattle duration. Formulation 3 on wafer treatment had the highest feeding frequency (P<0.05). Formulation 1 on wafer treatment had the highest duration of rumination (P<0.05). The conclusion is, Formulation 1 and 3 with wafer shape showed the best behavior for eating.

The effect of different types of in ovo selenium injection on the immunity, villi surface area, and growth performance of local chickens

Background and Aim

The presence of free radicals may lower chicken's performance. Thus, the antioxidant defense is needed and can be made through a nutritional approach such as selenium supplementation before hatches. This study aimed to investigate the type of selenium that, as an in ovo feeding (IOF) material, can provide the most enhancement of immunity, villi surface area, and early growth performance of local chickens.

Materials and Methods

This study, with a completely randomized design, used 480 fertile Kampung Unggul Balitbangtan (KUB, a selected local breed) chicken eggs, with 120 eggs per treatment for four treatments. The four treatments of IOF material included the treatment with organic selenium yeast (SY), organic hydroxy-selenomethionine (HSM), inorganic sodium selenite (SS), and uninjected selenium (control). A solution containing 0.15 ppm of different selenium was injected into the egg amnion after 18 days of incubation. Once hatched, the chicks were placed in three individual cages for each treatment (capacity of eight birds per cage). The parameters observed were the villi surface area, antibody titer, the number of total and differentiated leucocytes, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity levels, and growth and feed efficiency of the early growth performance.

Results

All the in ovo selenium feeding, except SS, significantly affected the villi surface area, antibody titer, and lymphocyte and heterophil percentages; however, the feedings were still not optimal for enhancing antibody titers and total and differentiated leukocytes. All types of selenium were demonstrated to increase the activity of GSH-Px significantly compared to the control treatment (p<0.05). Furthermore, the daily gain and feed conversion ratio of the groups treated with SY and HSM was significantly improved compared to that of the control group.

Conclusion

In ovo SY and HSM improve immunity significantly, villi surface areas and performance. Therefore, both types are the best nutrient ingredients of IOF for building immunity and producing good performance in chickens.

Synergistic Effect of Biofat and Biochar of Cashew Nutshell on Mitigate Methane in the Rumen

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a combination of biofat with biochar or biosmoke (bioindustrial products of cashew nut shells) at the best level as feed additive in reducing methane production and improving in vitro rumen fermentation. This experiment had two series of combination and each used a randomized block design with 6 treatments and 4 replications. A series of biofat (BF) and biochar (BC) combination were added each to substrate as followed BFBC1 = 0: 100%; BFBC2 = 25:75%; BFBC3 = 50:50%; BFBC4 = 75:25%; BFBC5 = 100: 0%. While, a series of biofat (BF) and biosmoke (BS) combination as followed BFBS1 = 0: 100%; BFBS2 = 25:75%; BFBS3 = 50:50%; BFBS4 = 75:25%; BFBS5 = 100: 0%. Both series used a control treatment which contained only substrate. The in vitro experiment was repeated 4 times and each treatment was done in duplicates. The measured variables were: total gas and CH4 productions, dry matter, organic matter, NDF degradability, NH3 and partial VFA concentrations. The results showed that the combination of biofat and biochar levels resulted in a significant decrease (P<0.01) of CH4 production in the rumen. CH4 production was 88.50% (BFBC1), 63.15% (BFBC2), 61.50% (BFBC3), 58.16% (BFBC4) and 73.93% (BFBC5) compared to control treatment (100% CH4 production). The combination caused higher NH3 at BFBC4 and significantly higher propionate and total VFA in the rumen than control. Dry matter degradation values increased by a combination level biofat and biochar (BFBC4 and BFBC5), but these results were the same as control. Addition of combination of biofat and biosmoke caused a significant decrease (P<0.01) of CH4 production in the rumen. CH4 production was 71.98% (BFBS1), 65.57% (BFBS2), 64.81% (BFBS3),60.21% (BFBS4) dan 80.72 (BFBS5) compared to control treatment (100% CH4 production). At BFBS4 level, NH3 production, DMD and OMD values were lower than control. In conclusion, the best combination producing synergistic effect as feed additive to reduce methane and increase ammonia in the in vitro rumen was combination of biofat and biochar (BFBC4=75: 25%) or biofat with biosmoke (BFBS4= 75: 25%).

Physical characteristic and palatability of biscuit bio-supplement for dairy goat

The objective of this study was to apply the physical characteristic and palatability of biscuit bio-supplement for dairy goat. This research was conducted at Laboratory of Feed Industry, Faculty of Animal Science, Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia and the palatability test was conducted on the dairy goat farm at Leuwiliang, Bogor, Indonesia on March-July 2012. Twenty heads of dairy goat were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments (four heads of goat/treatment). Experimental design used Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The treatments were biscuit bio-supplement composition i.e., R1 = biscuit bio-supplement of Indigofera sp., R2 = biscuit bio-supplement of Sauropus androgynus L. Merr leaf, R3 biscuit bio-supplement of Carica papaya L. leaf, R4 = biscuit bio-supplement of Sauropus androgynus L. Merr leaf and Indigofera sp., R5 = biscuit bio-supplement of Carica papaya L. leaf and Indigofera sp. The variables measured were moisture, water activity, water absorption, density and palatability of dairy goat. The results of this research indicated that the treatments of biscuit bio-supplement gave significant effect (p<0.05) on water content, water absorption, density and palatability, but had not significant effect on water activity. Palatability of R1 was 76.38±7.92, R2 was 23.81±6.08, R3 was 40.25±3.54, R4 was 29.56±4.77 and R5 was 95.63±7.36 g/head. Biscuit bio-supplement of Carica papaya L. leaf and Indigofera sp., (R5) had the best value of palatability for dairy goat and had the best crude protein (36.65%), also had lowest water activity, highest density than the other biscuits.

Morinda citrifolia L. leaf extract as antibacterial Salmonella typhimurium to increase productivity of quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

The objective of this study was to apply effect of Morinda citrifolia L. citrifolia L. leaf extract as antibacterial of Salmonella typhimurium on mortality of Day Old Quail (DOQ), egg production and Hen day, hatchability of layer quail. This research was conducted at Laboratory of microbiology and laboratory of poultry nutrition, faculty of animal science, bogor agricultural university and slamet quail farms cilangkap, sukabumi, west java, Indonesia on March-July 2012. Two hundred and forty heads of quail were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (sixty heads of quail/treatment). Experimental design used was Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The treatments consist of level of biscuit Morinda citrifolia L. Citrifolia L. leaf extract i.e R1 = 0%, R2 = 5%, R3 = 10%, R4 = 15%. The results indicated the treatments had significant effect (p < 0.05) on mortality of Day Old Quail (DOQ). The average mortality of Day Old Quail (DOQ) was given extract Morinda citrifolia L. leaf were R1 (4.00%), R2 (1.00%), R3 (1.33%), R4 (0.67%). The average mortality of Day Old Quail (DOQ) was given 15% extract Morinda citrifolia L. leaf (R4) was lowest than control treatment (R1). The results of the analysis indicated that Morinda citrifolia L. leaf of quail drink had not significant effect (p > 0.05) on egg production, hen day and hatchability. It was concluded that the Morinda citrifolia L. leaf extract 15% can reduce mortality of Day Old Quail (DOQ) and can increase its egg production, hen day and hatchability.

Uji Sifat Fisik dan Palatabilitas Biskuit Limbah Tanaman Jagung sebagai Substitusi Sumber Serat untuk Domba (The Physical Characteristic and Palatability of Corn Plant Waste Biscuit as Fiber Substitution for Sheep)

<p>Corn plant waste is one of alternative feed source that has big potential to make various low cost and useful feed product. One of technologies that can be applied to make feed biscuit is pressing technology. Biscuit feed is made by<br />heating and pressing of forage usually it to become, thin, and flat. The objectives of this experiment were to determine physical characteristics and palatability of corn plant waste in the biscuit form for fiber substitution. The experimental<br />design used was Completely Randomized Design with 6 treatments and 3 replications. The treatment were : R1 (100% field grass), R2 (50% field grass+50% corn leaf), R3 (100% corn leaf), R4 (50% field grass+50% corn husk), R5 (50% corn leaf+50% corn husk) and R6 (100% corn husk). The data were subjected to ANOVA and Contrast Orthogonal Test. The observed variables were water activity, moisture, water absorption, density, and palatability. The results indicated that the treatments had highly significant effect (P&lt;0.01) on water content. The water content of biscuits in R2 (11.06±0.10), R1 (11.23±0.60), and R6 (11.39±0.71) were lower than in biscuits R4 (11.73±0.17), R5 (11.80±0.09,) and R3 (12.85±0.37). The average of water content of all treatments was 11.68±0.34%. The treatments also significantly affected (P&lt;0.05) water absorption of biscuit feed in which water absorption on R4 (514.48±19.95), R5 (504.27±5.59) and R1 (492.34±40.90) were higher than R6 (452.31±42.63), R3 (438.00±15.69) and R2 (383.49±31.97) with overall averages of 464.15±26.12%. Water activity, density, and palatability were not significantly different. It could be concluded that palatability of corn plant waste biscuit was the same with field grass biscuit on sheep.</p><p>(Key words: Biscuit of corn plant waste, Physical characteristic, Palatability, Sheep)<br /><br /></p>