Rumen fermentation and microbial population in lactating dairy cows receiving diets containing oilseeds rich in C-18 fatty acids

Sixteen Holstein rumen-cannulated primiparous milking dairy cows were fed a control diet (CN) based on maize silage and soyabean meal during a 4-week period before the start of a 21-d experiment with oilseeds containing high concentration of linoleic acid (Linola™) or linolenic acid (NuLin™). Thereafter, four cows receivedad libitumone of each of four dietary treatments comprising of CN, Linola (LN), NuLin (NL) and LN/NL (50/50 % combination). Each LN, NL and LN/NL treatment contained 6 % oil of DM. Rumen digesta samples were collected on days 6, 11, 16 and 21 and milk samples on days 13, 15 and 17. There were no effects (P>0·05) of the oilseeds on pH and concentrations of NH3-N and total volatile fatty acids, while the acetate:propionate ratio was decreased (P< 0·05). The oilseeds also decreased (P< 0·05) protozoa and increased (P< 0·1) total cellulolytic bacteria in rumen fluid, especially when containing high dietary linoleic acid (P< 0·05). The milk protein concentration was increased (P< 0·1) by the dietary linoleic acid, which produced most beneficial results. It was concluded that supplements of linoleic acid in diets of ruminants might contribute to better digestion of dietary fibre and increased quality of milk.

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Metagenomic Insights into Effects of Thiamine Supplementation on Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes’ Profile in Dairy Cows Fed High-Concentrate Diets

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10020304 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 304 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yiguang Zhao ◽

Fuguang Xue ◽

Dengke Hua ◽

Yue Wang ◽

Xiaohua Pan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Carbohydrate Metabolism ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Volatile Fatty Acids ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Control Diet ◽

Critical Role ◽

Carbohydrate Active Enzymes ◽

Degrading Enzymes

As the co-enzyme of pyruvate formate-lyase under ruminal anaerobic condition, thiamine plays a critical role in carbohydrate metabolism in dairy cows. The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of thiamine supplementation on ruminal carbohydrate-active enzymes. Twelve Holstein dairy cows were randomly assigned into three dietary treatments: control diet (CON; 20% starch, dry matter (DM) basis), high-concentrate diet (HC; 33.2% starch, DM basis) and a high-concentrate diet supplemented with 180 mg thiamine/kg DM (HCT; 33.2% starch, DM basis). Dry matter intake and milk production were recorded for 21 days. Rumen fluid samples were collected, and ruminal pH and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were measured. The metagenome sequencing technique was used to detect the genes in ruminal microorganisms and identify putative carbohydrate-active enzymes. The total abundances of carbohydrate-active enzymes and fiber-degrading enzymes were both reduced by HC with no effect on starch-degrading enzymes compared with CON. However, the fiber-degrading enzymes and starch-degrading enzymes were both increased after thiamine supplementation. These results indicated that 180 mg thiamine /kg DM might effectively improve rumen carbohydrate metabolism through increasing the abundance of ruminal carbohydrate-active enzymes and consequently balanced the rumen volatile fatty acids and rumen pH, providing a practical strategy in preventing subacute ruminal acidosis in cows offered HC.

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Intraruminal administration ofMegasphaera elsdeniimodulated rumen fermentation profile in mid-lactation dairy cows

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s0022029911000707 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 79 (1) ◽

pp. 16-25 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Qendrim Zebeli ◽

Sarah J Terrill ◽

Alberto Mazzolari ◽

Suzanna M Dunn ◽

Wen Z Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Volatile Fatty Acids ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Plasma Concentrations ◽

Rumen Fermentation ◽

Holstein Cows ◽

Plasma Metabolites ◽

Fermentation Profile

This study evaluated the effects of intraruminal administration ofMegasphaera elsdeniion ruminal fermentation patterns, the profile of plasma metabolites, and milk yield and composition of mid-lactation dairy cows. Eight primiparous, ruminally cannulated Holstein cows were arranged in a paired 2×2 crossover design. Cows were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: 1) intraruminal inoculation of 35 ml suspension per day ofM. elsdeniiATCC 25940 (MEGA), containing 108cfu/ml of bacteria, dissolved in 35 ml of saline (0·15m), or 2) carrier alone (35 ml saline; CTR). Both postprandial and preprandial rumen volatile fatty acids (VFA) and plasma metabolite measurements were analysed. Postprandial VFA patterns were affected the most, with butyrate (P<0·01) and valerate (P<0·01) proportions increasing, and acetate (P<0·01), isobutyrate (P=0·05) and isovalerate (P<0·01) decreasing in MEGA cows. Preprandial data measured at various days showed that MEGA dosage tended to increase the molar proportion of propionate (P=0·09) and lower the acetate to propionate ratio (P=0·07) in the rumen fluid. There was no effect of treatment on rumen pH and on the concentration of lactate in the rumen as well as on selected preprandial plasma metabolites. Postprandial plasma concentrations of cholesterol tended to increase (P=0·07) in MEGA cows compared with CTR. Concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in the plasma were lower in MEGA cows after the morning feeding (P<0·01). Sampling hour also affected plasma NEFA in this study. Plasma β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) were not affected by the treatment (P>0·05); however, after the morning feeding BHBA concentration was increased in both groups of cows. Dry matter intake and milk yield and composition were not affected by treatment. In conclusion, results indicate thatM. elsdeniihas the potential to modulate the rumen fermentation profile in mid-lactation Holstein cows, but these effects were only slightly reflected in changes in plasma metabolites and milk composition.

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ALFALFA SUPPLEMENTATION OF CORNCOB DIETS FOR SHEEP: COMPARISON WITH HIGHER VOLATILE FATTY ACIDS, SOYBEAN PROTEIN AND ALFALFA FIBER ON INTAKE, ENVIRONMENT AND DIGESTION IN THE RUMEN AND DIGESTA PASSAGE

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas87-114 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 67 (4) ◽

pp. 1083-1091 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

L. R. NDLOVU ◽

J. G. BUCHANAN-SMITH

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Volatile Fatty Acids ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Soybean Protein ◽

Control Diet ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Latin Squares ◽

Protein Preparation ◽

Alfalfa Hay

Nine lambs fitted with rumen cannulae were used in two 5 × 5 Latin squares to measure the effect of alfalfa hay, C4- and C5-branched- and straight-chain volatile fatty acids (C4/C5 VFAs), cell wall from alfalfa hay (ALFCW) and a soybean protein preparation on intake and rumen digestion of a basal corncob diet with urea included at 30 g kg−1. Relative to the control, alfalfa hay decreased (P < 0.05) intake of the basal diet but increased (P < 0.05) total dry matter intake. ALFCW and soybean protein did not affect intake of the basal diet and total dry matter (P > 0.05). C4/C5 VFAs increased intake of basal diet by sheep in one square (P < 0.05) but had no effect (P > 0.05) on intake with sheep in the other square. Alfalfa hay, ALFCW and soybean protein increased (P < 0.05) total VFA concentration in rumen fluid while only alfalfa hay and C4/C5 VFAs consistently increased isobutyrate, isovalerate and valerate levels in rumen fluid (P < 0.05). In comparison with the control diet, soybean protein elevated (P < 0.05) mean rumen ammonia-N levels whereas C4/C5 VFAs depressed them; however, values exceeded 17 mg dL−1 rumen fluid on all treatments. Most measures of digestion kinetics of fiber from corncobs were unaffected by supplementation (P > 0.05). Alfalfa hay and ALFCW increased (P < 0.05) rate of passage of digesta from the reticulo-rumen. It was concluded that alfalfa hay has a reduced role in improving intake of corncob diets when there is also sufficient NPN in the diet. Key words: Roughage (poor quality), volatile fatty acids, rumen ammonia levels, chromium-mordanted cell walls

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Ruminal cellulolytic bacteria abundance leads to the variation in fatty acids in the rumen digesta and meat of fattening lambs

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa228 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (7) ◽

Author(s):

Zhian Zhang ◽

Xiaolin Niu ◽

Fei Li ◽

Fadi Li ◽

Long Guo

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Fatty Acid ◽

Volatile Fatty Acids ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Cellulolytic Bacteria ◽

Bacterial Dna ◽

Butyrivibrio Fibrisolvens ◽

Fa Composition ◽

Rumen Acidosis ◽

Branched Chain

Abstract Ruminal cellulolytic bacteria could be a diagnostic tool for determining the subacute rumen acidosis (SARA) risk in individual ruminants; however, a limited number of studies have investigated the effects of the abundance of ruminal cellulolytic bacteria on the fatty acid (FA) composition of the rumen digesta and the muscle of sheep. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the variation of rumen cellulolytic bacteria on the rumen fermentation, rumen digesta, and muscle FA composition of fattening lambs fed an identical diet. Forty-eight lambs were reared in individual units and fed a high-concentrate diet consisting of 20% forage and 80% concentrate. All lambs were adapted to diets and facilities for 14 d, and sampling was for 63 d. At the end of the experiment, the rumen fluid, rumen digesta, and longissimus dorsi were collected after slaughter for the measurement of volatile fatty acids, ruminal bacterial DNA, rumen digesta, and muscle FAs. The lambs were classified into the lower cellulolytic bacteria (LCB, n = 10) group and the higher cellulolytic bacteria (HCB, n = 10) group according to the abundance of pH-sensitive cellulolytic bacteria (Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Fibrobacter succinogenes, and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens) in the rumen. Ruminal acetate concentration was positively correlated with the number of R. flavefaciens, F. Succinogenes, and B. fibrisolvens (P < 0.05, r > 0.296), whereas propionate and valerate concentrations were negatively correlated with the amount of F. succinogenes and B. fibrisolvens (P < 0.05, r > 0.348). Compared with the LCB group, the acetate (P = 0.018) as well as acetate to propionate ratio (P = 0.012) in the HCB group was higher, but the valerate ratio was lower (P = 0.002). The proportions of even-chain FAs and odd- and branched-chain fatty acid in the rumen digesta of lambs with the HCB were higher (P < 0.05), while the polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased than those in the LCB lambs (P < 0.05), but those FA proportions in the meat were similar between the two groups. The proportion of C17:0 in the meat of lambs in the HCB group was lower than that of lambs in the LCB group (P = 0.033). The proportions of conjugated linoleic acid in rumen digesta and meat were both higher in the HCB group than that in the LCB group (P = 0.046). These results indicated that the ruminal cellulolytic bacteria can alter the FA compositions in rumen digesta and further influenced the FA compositions in the meat of sheep.

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Foraging behavior and ruminal fermentation of dairy cows grazing ryegrass pasture alone or with white clover

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-204x2012000300019 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 458-465 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Henrique Mendonça Nunes Ribeiro Filho ◽

Jean-Louis Peyraud ◽

Rémy Delagarde

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Experimental Design ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Perennial Ryegrass ◽

White Clover ◽

Volatile Fatty Acids ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Latin Square ◽

Ruminal Fermentation ◽

The Relationship

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of pasture composition and regrowth age on the relationship between feeding behavior and ruminal fermentation in dairy cows grazing perennial ryegrass with or without white clover. The experiment was carried out in a 2x2 factorial arrangement, with two sward types and two ages of regrowth. Swards of perennial ryegrass sown alone (PRG) and of perennial ryegrass mixed with white clover (GC) were evaluated. Twelve late-lactation Holstein cows, fistulated at the rumen, were distributed in a 4x4 latin square experimental design with four 12-day periods. Daily distribution of grazing was similar in the PRG and the GC swards, but the concentration of rumen volatile fatty acids (VFA) was higher and the proportion of propionate was lower on mixed swards during the day. Daily distribution of grazing was similar in pastures of different ages. However, in the oldest swards, rumen fluid pH increased and VFA concentration decreased after evening milking. Time spent grazing does not influence ruminal fermentation, which depends on the changes that occur as different sward layers are grazed.

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THE PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC ACIDS IN THE PIG: II. THE EFFECT OF DIET ON THE LEVELS OF VOLATILE FATTY ACIDS AND LACTIC ACID IN SECTIONS OF THE ALIMENTARY TRACT

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas63-020 ◽

1963 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 156-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

D. W. Friend ◽

H. M. Cunningham ◽

J. W. G. Nicholson

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Small Intestine ◽

Lactic Acid ◽

Organic Acid ◽

Volatile Fatty Acids ◽

Alimentary Tract ◽

Total Concentration ◽

Control Diet ◽

High Concentration ◽

Organic Acid Content

Two experiments were conducted to measure volatile fatty acids and lactic acid in the alimentary tract of pigs. The animals had been fed either a cellulose-, bran- or dried whey-supplemented diet before slaughter.The cellulose-supplemented diet generally gave a lower total organic acid content than did the control diet, for each section of the tract examined. A high concentration and large quantity of organic acid characterized the colon of the pig.In the second experiment, where the control diet was supplemented with either bran or dried whey, formic acid was found only in the stomach and small intestine of each pig. Lactic acid in the large intestine was found less often in the bran-fed pigs than it was in the pigs fed the other two diets.The digesta of the small intestine gave the lowest (P < 0.01) total concentration (meq./100 ml.) of organic acid. The concentration of acid in the caecum of the control pigs was nearly twice that reported for the caecum of cattle.The proportion of lactic acid decreased progressively as the digesta passed along the tract, the differences being highly significant (P < 0.01) between the upper sections (stomach and small intestine) and lower sections (caecum and colon). There was a tendency for the bran-fed pigs to have a greater proportion of acetic acid in the digesta than the controls. Acetic, propionic and butyric acids were found in the caecum of the bran-fed pigs in the proportions of 60, 32 and 7.5 per cent, respectively. The type of diet and the locality of the digesta affected significantly the proportion of acids found in the alimentary tract.The largest quantity of organic acid (gm.) was found in the stomach and slightly less in the proximal portion of the colon. The total quantity of organic acid present in the alimentary tract at the time of examination was calculated to be 45, 60 and 49 grams for the control, whey- and the bran-fed pigs respectively.

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Effect of quantity and source of rumen nitrogen on the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis in steers consuming tropical forage

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an15739 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 58 (5) ◽

pp. 811 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M. K. Bowen ◽

D. P. Poppi ◽

S. R. McLennan

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Protein Synthesis ◽

Dilution Rate ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Volatile Fatty Acids ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Control Diet ◽

Microbial Protein ◽

Microbial Protein Synthesis ◽

Grass Hay

Low values for the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis (EMPS) in cattle consuming tropical forages are related to low rumen degradable crude protein (RDP) intakes. This study examined the effect on the EMPS of the quantity and source of nitrogen (N) supplied to the rumen of eight entire and four rumen-fistulated Brahman steers consuming mature tropical grass hay (57.3 g crude protein/kg DM). Four treatment diets were fed in a Latin square design and included a basal diet of mature pangola grass (Digitaria eriantha) hay (control) and hay plus supplements estimated to provide 150 g RDP/kg digestible organic matter intake (DOMI), as urea or casein, or 300 g RDP/kg DOMI as casein. The EMPS was only increased (P < 0.05) above that for the control diet (167 vs 123 g microbial crude protein (MCP)/kg DOMI) when RDP was provided at the highest rate of 293 g/kg DOMI. This increase was also associated with an ~4-fold increase in the concentration of NH3-N (277 vs 73 mg/L) and of branched-chain volatile fatty acids (44 vs 10 mmol/mol of total volatile fatty acids) in rumen fluid of the steers. However, the source of rumen degradable N (urea or casein) had no effect on the EMPS (109–115 g MCP/kg DOMI) when supplied at ~150 g RDP/kg DOMI. There was no effect of treatment on in vivo neutral detergent fibre digestibility (599 g/kg DM) or the rate (0.037/h) or extent (potential degradable fraction: 636 g/kg OM) of in sacco disappearance of pangola grass hay. In addition, rumen particle dilution rate was unaffected by treatment (0.022/h) and rumen fluid dilution rate, although showing some treatment differences (0.048–0.062/h), was poorly correlated with EMPS. It was concluded that only high amounts of RDP supply to the rumen, in the form of true protein, resulted in increased EMPS whereas at the lower intakes of RDP formulated to achieve EMPS in the range suggested in the feeding standards (130–170 g MCP/kg DOMI) there was no difference in providing the RDP as non-protein N or degradable-protein.

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Identification of the Potential Role of the Rumen Microbiome in Milk Protein and Fat Synthesis in Dairy Cows Using Metagenomic Sequencing

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11051247 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 1247

Author(s):

Xin Wu ◽

Shuai Huang ◽

Jinfeng Huang ◽

Peng Peng ◽

Yanan Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Milk Protein ◽

Volatile Fatty Acids ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Metagenomic Sequencing ◽

Amino Acid Synthesis ◽

Prevotella Species

The rumen contains abundant microorganisms that aid in the digestion of lignocellulosic feed and are associated with host phenotype traits. Cows with extremely high milk protein and fat percentages (HPF; n = 3) and low milk protein and fat percentages (LPF; n = 3) were selected from 4000 lactating Holstein cows under the same nutritional and management conditions. We found that the total concentration of volatile fatty acids, acetate, butyrate, and propionate in the rumen fluid was significantly higher in the HPF group than in the LPF group. Moreover, we identified 38 most abundant species displaying differential richness between the two groups, in which Prevotella accounted for 68.8% of the species, with the highest abundance in the HPF group. Functional annotation based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG), evolutionary genealogy of genes: Non-supervised Orthologous Groups (eggNOG), and Carbohydrate-Active enzymes (CAZy) databases showed that the significantly more abundant species in the HPF group are enriched in carbohydrate, amino acid, pyruvate, insulin, and lipid metabolism and transportation. Furthermore, Spearman’s rank correlation analysis revealed that specific microbial taxa (mainly the Prevotella species and Neocallimastix californiae) are positively correlated with total volatile fatty acids (VFA). Collectively, we found that the HPF group was enriched with several Prevotella species related to the total VFA, acetate, and amino acid synthesis. Thereby, these fulfilled the host’s needs for energy, fat, and rumen microbial protein, which can be used for increased biosynthesis of milk fat and milk protein. Our findings provide novel information for elucidation of the regulatory mechanism of the rumen in the formation of milk composition.

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