scholarly journals Insects as Novel Ruminant Feed and a Potential Mitigation Strategy for Methane Emissions

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2648
Author(s):  
Eslam Ahmed ◽  
Naoki Fukuma ◽  
Masaaki Hanada ◽  
Takehiro Nishida

This study is the first to evaluate the chemical composition and impacts of four different edible insects, Acheta domesticus (A.d), Brachytrupes portentosus (B.p), Gryllus bimaculatus (G.b), and Bombyx mori (B.m), on the digestibility, rumen fermentation, and methane production when used as a substitute for 25% of the soybean meal (SBM) in a ruminant diet through in vitro incubation. The dietary treatments were 100% grass hay, 60% grass hay + 40% SBM, 60% grass hay + 30% SBM + 10% A.d, 60% grass hay + 30% SBM + 10% B.p, 60% grass hay + 30% SBM + 10% G.b, and 60% grass hay + 30% SBM + 10% B.m. The experiment was conducted as a short-term batch culture for 24 h at 39 °C, and the incubation was repeated in 3 consecutive runs. Chemical analysis of the insects showed that they were rich in fat (14–26%) with a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (60–70%). Additionally, the insects were rich in protein (48–61%) containing all essential amino acids and the amino acid profiles of the insects were almost the same as that of SBM. The inclusion of insects did not affect nutrient digestibility or the production of volatile fatty acids but did increase the production of ammonia-nitrogen. The addition of G.b and B.m led to decrease in methane production by up to 18% and 16%, respectively. These results reveal that substitution of 25% SBM in the diet with the tested insects had no negative impacts, and their potential to reduce methane production is an environmental benefit.

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-279
Author(s):  
M.R. Kekana ◽  
D. Luseba ◽  
M.C. Muyu

Garlic contains secondary metabolites with antimicrobial properties that can alter nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation, similar to other antimicrobial products. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effects of garlic powder and garlic juice on in vitro nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, and gas production. The treatments consisted of control with no additives, garlic powder, and garlic juice at 0.5 ml and 1 ml. The digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fibre were determined after 48 hours incubation. Rumen ammonia nitrogen and volatile fatty acids were determined at 12 hours and 24 hours incubation. The cumulative gas production was recorded periodically over 48 hours. The in vitro dry matter disappearance decreased with 1 ml of garlic juice compared with control. The crude protein degradability in garlic powder and garlic juice was lower than in control. Volatile fatty acids increased in all treatments. Individual volatile fatty acids were significantly different, especially propionate, whereas the acetate to propionate ratio was reduced by garlic juice, and ammonia nitrogen was reduced by garlic powder and 0.5 ml of garlic juice. The cumulative gas production increased significantly with both levels of garlic juice. The addition of garlic juice at 0.5 mL/100 ml could enhance the production of propionate, and reduce the acetate to propionate ratio, implying that the supply of hydrogen for methanogens was limited.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2453
Author(s):  
Ahmed E. Kholif ◽  
Gouda A. Gouda ◽  
Hatem A. Hamdon

Fat supplementation affects the lactational performance of goats and dramatically changes milk nutritive value. In the present experiment, two levels of Nannochloropsis oculata microalgae, a natural source of rumen-protected eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), were studied in the diet of Nubian goats. Using quintuplicated 3 × 3 Latin square design, fifteen lactating goats, (14 ± 2 months old and 33.0 ± 1.3 kg) after kidding, were randomly assigned into three treatments in an 84-d assay. Goats were offered a basal diet comprising berseem clover, wheat straw and concentrates in 3:2:5, respectively, (control treatment-no supplementation). The other two treatments were supplemented with N. oculata microalgae at 5 g (NOM5 treatment) or 10 g (NOM10 treatment)/doe/d. Without affecting intake, treatments improved (p < 0.01) nutrient digestibility. Supplementations had no effect on ruminal pH and ammonia-nitrogen, however, NOM5 and NOM10 linearly improved (p < 0.05) total volatile fatty acids and propionic acids. N. oculata supplementation linearly increased (p < 0.01) milk yield and lactose content. Supplementation reduced atherogenic index (p = 0.004) and enhanced the concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids and C20:5n3 (EPA). Conclusively, feeding Nubian goats on diet supplemented with N. oculata at 5 and 10 g improved milk production and the nutritive value. No improvements in the performance were observed when N. oculata dose was increased from 5 g to 10 g/doe; thus, 5 g dose is recommended for use.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Kekana ◽  
D. Luseba ◽  
M. C. Muyu

Abstract Garlic has secondary metabolites that possess antimicrobial properties that can alter nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation similar to known antimicrobial products. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effects of garlic powder and garlic juice on in vitro nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation and gas production. The treatments were control no additives, garlic powder and garlic juice of 0.5 ml and 1 ml. The digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fibre were determined after 48h incubation. Rumen ammonia nitrogen and volatile fatty acids were determined at 12h and 24h incubation. The cumulative gas production was recorded periodically over 48h. The in vitro dry matter disappearance decreased with 1 ml of garlic juice compared to control. The crude protein degradability in garlic powder and garlic juice was lower than in control. The volatile fatty acids increased in all the treatments. Individual volatile fatty acids were significantly different, especially propionate, while the acetate:propionate ratio was reduced by garlic juice, and ammonia nitrogen was reduced by garlic powder and 0.5 ml of garlic juice. The cumulative gas production increased significantly with both levels of garlic juice. The addition of garlic juice at 0.5 mL/100 mL could enhance the production of propionate, and reduce the acetate:propionate ratio implying that the supply of hydrogen for methanogens is limited.


2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (9) ◽  
pp. 1674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Metha Wanapat ◽  
Thiwakorn Ampapon ◽  
Kampanat Phesatcha ◽  
Sungchhang Kang

Replacement of chemical compounds by dietary sources as rumen enhancers have been of great interest and concern by researchers. Four, rumen-fistulated swamp buffalo bulls with average liveweight of 365 ± 15.0 kg were randomly assigned to treatments, to investigate the impact of banana flower powder (BAFLOP) as a rumen modifier on pH, rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility, microbial protein synthesis and volatile fatty acids. All buffaloes were allotted according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Dietary supplementation treatments were as follows: 2 g concentrate/kg bodyweight (BW; T1), 15 g concentrate/kg BW (T2), 15 g concentrate/kg BW plus BAFLOP 300 g/head.day (T3) and 15 g concentrate/kg BW plus BAFLOP 600 g/head.day (T4). Untreated rice straw was fed ad libitum. The findings showed that total feed intake was increased in buffaloes fed a diet supplemented with concentrate at 2 g/kg BW, while rice straw intake was reduced. Nutrient digestibility was increased by BAFLOP supplementation at both levels (T3 and T4; P &lt; 0.05). Ruminal pH dropped (5.9) in buffaloes fed with concentrate at 15 g/kg BW, while buffaloes with BAFLOP supplementation could maintain ruminal pH when fed with high-concentrate diet. Ruminal ammonia-nitrogen increased in the buffaloes fed concentrate at 15 g/kg BW, especially with BAFLOP supplementation. Feeding high-concentrate diet increased the concentrations of ruminal total volatile fatty acids and propionic acid (C3), while the concentration of acetic acid and the acetic acid:C3 ratio and methane production were subsequently reduced (P &lt; 0.05). In addition, efficiency of microbial protein synthesis was increased by the BAFLOP feeding (P &lt; 0.05). In the present study, using BAFLOP as a dietary rumen enhancer at 300–600 g/head.day resulted in an increased rumen pH, C3 concentration, nutrient digestibility and microbial protein synthesis, while mitigating ruminal methane production. Higher nutrient digestibility and lower ruminal methane production, more dietary energy and production efficiency are expected.


2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (No. 8) ◽  
pp. 352-360
Author(s):  
Jiu Yuan ◽  
Xinjie Wan

The associative effects (AE) between concentrate (C), peanut shell (P) and alfalfa (A) were investigated by means of an automated gas production (GP) system. The C, P and A were incubated alone or as 40 : 60 : 0, 40 : 45 : 15, 40 : 30 : 30, 40 : 15 : 45, 40 : 0 : 60 and 30 : 70 : 0, 30 : 55 : 15, 30 : 40 : 30, 30 : 25 : 45, 30 : 10 : 60, 30 : 0 : 70 mixtures where the C : roughage (R) ratios were 40 : 60 and 30 : 70. Samples (0.2000 ± 0.0010 g) of single feeds or mixtures were incubated for 96 h in individual bottles (100 ml) with 30 ml of buffered rumen fluid. GP parameters were analysed using a single exponential equation. After incubation, the residues were used to determine pH, dry matter digestibility (DMD), organic matter digestibility (OMD), volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ammonia nitrogen (NH<sub>3</sub>-N) of the incubation fluid, and their single factor AE indices (SFAEI) and multiple-factors AE indices (MFAEI) were determined. The results showed that group of 30 peanut shell had higher SFAEI of GP<sub>48 h</sub>, DMD, OMD and total volatile fatty acids (p &lt; 0.05) and MFAEI (p &lt; 0.05) than groups 60, 45 and 0 when C : R was 40 : 60. The group of 10 peanut shell showed higher SFAEI of GP<sub>48 h</sub>, DMD and OMD (p &lt; 0.05) than groups 70, 55 and 40 and MFAEI (p &lt; 0.01) when C : R was 30 : 70. It is concluded that optimal SFAEI and MFAEI were obtained when the C : P : A ratios were 40 : 30 : 30 and 30 : 10 : 60.


1971 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 461 ◽  
Author(s):  
GJ Faichney ◽  
RH Weston

Digestion of a diet containing 10% casein, either untreated or treated with formaldehyde, was studied in crossbred wether lambs. The treatment prevented breakdown of the casein in rumen liquor in vitro. There was a highly significant decrease in organic matter digestion in the rumen when the treated casein diet was given to the lambs. This was accounted for by increases in the amounts of protein and starch passing to the intestines. There was a 60 % increase in the amount of non-ammonia nitrogen and a 55 % increase in the amount of starch digested in the intestines. The concentrations of volatile fatty acids and ammonia in the rumen were significantly lower. There were increases in the plasma levels of insulin and �-amino nitrogen and a decrease in the plasma urea level in response to the treatment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiangkun Yu ◽  
Liyuan Cai ◽  
Jiacai Zhang ◽  
Ao Yang ◽  
Yanan Wang ◽  
...  

This study was performed to explore the predominant responses of rumen microbiota with thymol supplementation as well as effective dose of thymol on rumen fermentation. Thymol at different concentrations, i.e., 0, 100 mg/L, 200 mg/L, and 400 mg/L (four groups × five replications) was applied for 24 h of fermentation in a rumen fluid incubation system. Illumina MiSeq sequencing was applied to investigate the ruminal microbes in addition to the examination of rumen fermentation. Thymol doses reached 200 mg/L and significantly decreased (p < 0.05) total gas production (TGP) and methane production; the production of total volatile fatty acids (VFA), propionate, and ammonia nitrogen, and the digestibility of dry matter and organic matter were apparently decreased (p < 0.05) when the thymol dose reached 400 mg/L. A thymol dose of 200 mg/L significantly affected (p < 0.05) the relative abundance of 14 genera of bacteria, three species of archaea, and two genera of protozoa. Network analysis showed that bacteria, archaea, and protozoa significantly correlated with methane production and VFA production. This study indicates an optimal dose of thymol at 200 mg/L to facilitate rumen fermentation, the critical roles of bacteria in rumen fermentation, and their interactions with the archaea and protozoa.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yulianri Rizki Yanza ◽  
Malgorzata Szumacher-Strabel ◽  
Dorota Lechniak ◽  
Sylwester Ślusarczyk ◽  
Pawel Kolodziejski ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of biologically active compounds (BAC) of Coleus amboinicus Lour. (CAL) herb fed to growing lambs on ruminal methane production, ruminal biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids and meat characteristics. An in vitro trial (Experiment 1) comprising of control and three experimental diets (CAL constituting 10%, 15%, and 20% of the total diet) was conducted to determine an effective dose for in vivo experiments. After the in vitro trial, two in vivo experiments were conducted on six growing, rumen-cannulated lambs (Experiment 2) and 16 growing lambs (Experiment 3), which were assigned into the control (CON) and one experimental diet (20% of CAL). Several parameters were examined in vitro (pH, ammonia and VFA concentrations, protozoa, methanogens and select bacteria populations) and in vivo (methane production, digestibility, ruminal microorganism populations, meat quality, fatty acids profiles in rumen fluid and meat, transcript expression of 5 genes in meat). Results: The CAL lowered in vitro methane production by 51%. In the in vivo experiments, lambs fed CAL decreased methane production by 20% compared with the CON animals (Experiment 3), which corresponded to the reduced total methanogens counts in all experiments up to 28%, notably Methanobacteriales. In Experiment 3, CAL increased or tended to increase the numbers of Ruminococcus albus, Megasphaeraelsdenii, Butyrivibrioproteoclasticus, and Butyrivibriofibrisolvens. Dietary CAL suppressed the Holotricha population, but increased or tended to increase Entodiniomorpha population in Experiments 2 and 3. An increase in the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) proportion in the rumen of lambs was noted in response to the CAL diet, which was mainly attributable to the increase in C18:3 cis-9 cis-12 cis-15 (LNA) proportion. The CAL reduced the mRNA expressions of four investigated genes in meat (fatty acid synthase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase, lipoprotein lipase, and fatty acid desaturase 1). Conclusions:Summarizing, polyphenols of CAL (20% in diet) origin can mitigate ruminal methane production by inhibiting the methanogens communities. Supplementation of CAL also provides favorable conditions in the rumen by modulating ruminal bacteria involved in fermentation and biohydrogenation of fatty acids. CAL elevated the LNA concentration, which led to improved meat quality through increased deposition of n-3 PUFA.


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