Effect of Fermentation with Rumen Content on the Feeding Value of Boiled Iron Tree (Prosopis africana) Seedcoat on Haematology and Serum Biochemistry of Broiler Chickens

Aims: The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of inclusion of Prosopis seed coat fermented with rumen content at different levels as energy source on the serum biochemical composition and heamatological indices of broiler chickens. Study Design:Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance in a completely randomized design. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Livestock Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Between November 2016 and January 2017. Methodology: The study was in two phases; the starter and finisher phase, in each of the phases, there were five dietary groups and fermented Prosopis africana seed coat meal (FPASCM) was included at 0, 10, 15, 20 and 25% to replace maize. The total of two hundred and sixty (260), day- old Zartech broiler chicks were randomly distributed to five dietary treatments with four replicates of 52 chickens per treatment and each replicate had 13 birds. The birds were raised on deep litter and fed ad-libitum and drinking water provided daily and performance was monitored. At the end of the eight week, blood was collected via the wing web for serum and haematological assay. Results: The results of haematological parameters of broiler chickens fed varying levels of fermented Prosopis africana seed coat are presented in Table 3.There were no significant (P>0.05) differences between treatments for parameters measured except for PCV and haemogobin. The PCV values ranged from 25.00 -28.25% and haemoglobin values ranged from 8.35 -9.40g/dl. It was observed that most of the haematological indices measured fell within the normal reference range values. The results of serum biochemical assay revealed that serum glucose 45.85-107.22 mg/dl varied significantly (P<0.05) among the dietary treatments. Birds served 25% FPSCM had the highest value while those served 15% FPASCM recorded least value. Conclusion: Based on the observations from this study, it was concluded that FPASCM could be included in the diets of broiler chickens up to 25% without compromising the health of the birds.

Features of the formation of the bacterial community of the rumen and the biochemical status of the cows depending on the protein source

The results of scientific and economic experiment on the use of protein concentrate “AgroMatic” in feeding highly productive cows of Ayrshire breed during lactation have been provided in the article. The use of protein concentrate “Agro-Matic” in the rations of dairy cattle in the amount of 1,0 and 1,5 kg/head/day has been leaded to an increase in the content of cellulolytic microflora at the end of lactation compared with the control group. At the same time, the level of microorganisms that stimulate and promote immunity (bacilli, bifid bacterium) and suppress the development of pathogenic bacteria has been observed in high amounts throughout lactation in the experimental groups whose ration was put with protein concentrate. In the rumen content of cows have been receiving 1,5 kg/head/day of protein concentrate “Agro-Matic”, the increased content of bifid bacterium by 0,03 abs.% and bacilli by 0,91 abs.% has been noted. The inclusion of the maximum level of protein concentrate was characterized by the decrease in the number of pathogenic microorganisms like pathogens of mastitis and other diseases (lactobacilli, actinomycetes and enterobacteria). The total number of cellulolytic bacteria in the rumen content at the end of lactation when using 1,0 kg/head/day of protein concentrate in animals increased compared to animals that consumed the basic ration. The inclusion of protein concentrate throughout lactation contributed to the increase in the blood content of total protein and nitrogen of free amino acids. Thus, the use of protein concentrate during the feeding period increased the intensity of protein metabolism in animals. The inclusion of 1,5 kg of protein concentrate in the ration contributed to the increase in total protein in the blood by 4,6 g/l, at the level of 1,0 kg by 9,1 g/l (P > 0,95). The index of insemination when using protein concentrate in lactating cows has been decreased by 21,7 % and the duration of the period of open days by 28,2 days.

Modification of microbiological quality and valorization of different ruminants species ruminal content in farm animals feeding

This study is based on the microbiological analysis of a common slaughterhouse by-product which is the rumen content, before and after treatment with HCl 1N, targeting its valorization in domestic animal feeding. A total of 24 rumen content samples were collected in pairs (two series) immediately after slaughter from 12 ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats). The first series was not treated with HCl (N0 = 12), while the second series was treated with HCl 1N (N1 = 12) to adjust its pH to about 2. Then all samples (series 1 and 2) were subject to a group of microbiological analyzes targeting identification and enumeration of total aerobic mesophilic flora; fecal and total coliforms; Clostridium perfringens; Staphylococcus aureus; Salmonella spp. as well as yeasts and molds. The results revealed that after lowering the pH to about 2, the 2nd series samples were considered of satisfactory quality, with reference to Algerian microbiological standards for livestock feeds. The reduction rates of germs in the 2nd series compared to the 1st series were as follows: total aerobic mesophilic flora (86.45%), total coliforms (96.43%), faecal coliforms (70.41). %), Clostridium perfringens (88.4%), yeast and mold (87.75%). The total absence of Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. was registered.

Transcriptional analysis reveals specific niche factors and response to environmental stresses of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 in bovine digestive contents

Background Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are responsible for severe diseases in humans, and the ruminant digestive tract is considered as their main reservoir. Their excretion in bovine feces leads to the contamination of foods and the environment. Thus, providing knowledge of processes used by EHEC to survive and/or develop all along the bovine gut represents a major step for strategies implementation. Results We compared the transcriptome of the reference EHEC strain EDL933 incubated in vitro in triplicate samples in sterile bovine rumen, small intestine and rectum contents with that of the strain grown in an artificial medium using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), focusing on genes involved in stress response, adhesion systems including the LEE, iron uptake, motility and chemotaxis. We also compared expression of these genes in one digestive content relative to the others. In addition, we quantified short chain fatty acids and metal ions present in the three digestive contents. RNA-seq data first highlighted response of EHEC EDL933 to unfavorable physiochemical conditions encountered during its transit through the bovine gut lumen. Seventy-eight genes involved in stress responses including drug export, oxidative stress and acid resistance/pH adaptation were over-expressed in all the digestive contents compared with artificial medium. However, differences in stress fitness gene expression were observed depending on the digestive segment, suggesting that these differences were due to distinct physiochemical conditions in the bovine digestive contents. EHEC activated genes encoding three toxin/antitoxin systems in rumen content and many gene clusters involved in motility and chemotaxis in rectum contents. Genes involved in iron uptake and utilization were mostly down-regulated in all digestive contents compared with artificial medium, but feo genes were over-expressed in rumen and small intestine compared with rectum. The five LEE operons were more expressed in rectum than in rumen content, and LEE1 was also more expressed in rectum than in small intestine content. Conclusion Our results highlight various strategies that EHEC may implement to survive in the gastrointestinal environment of cattle. These data could also help defining new targets to limit EHEC O157:H7 carriage and shedding by cattle.

329 Supplementing Native Rumen Microorganisms Improves Feedlot Steer Digestive Health and Performance

The rumen microbiome functions as a synchronized entity that digests feed in order to provide nutrients for its host. High-concentrate diets destabilize the rumen microbiome by biasing the community towards microorganisms that readily ferment simple carbohydrates resulting in decreased pH, increased CO2, and an increased solvent concentration in the rumen content. This chemical shift interrupts rumen fermentation and can lead to the development of metabolic diseases that negatively impact animal performance. This study evaluated the benefit of a daily, in-feed microbial feed supplement (MFS; Magnius, Native Microbials Inc, San Diego, CA) containing three native rumen microbes (Chordicoccus ruminifurens ASCUSBF65, Prevotella albensis ASCUSBF41, and Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens ASCUSBF53) on commercial feedlot steer performance and rumen microbiome composition. The trial was conducted by HMS Veterinary Development in Reedley, CA using 200 steers in 20 pens over 109 days with a 2x2 factorial design (with and without step-up period x with and without MFS). The without step-up group was directly fed the finisher ration (94% concentrate, 0.95 Mcal/lb NEm), while the step-up group was adapted to the finisher ration over a period of 21 days. Rumen microbiome samples were collected via stomach tubing periodically throughout the trial. At the end of 109 days, the FCR of the animals receiving MFS were significantly lower than the control animals (7.67% improvement, P = 0.013) in the step-up group, although no significant differences were observed in ADG and DMI. No significant performance differences were observed in the group without a step-up (Table 1). The relationship between rumen pH, dissolved CO2, and the observed changes in the microbiome suggest a potential interplay between acetogenesis and methanogenesis where CO2 consuming bacteria may be important in improving rumen digestive health. Collectively, these results suggest that feeding native rumen microorganisms can improve rumen resilience and health of high-grain consuming cattle.

Fatty acid metabolism in lambs supplemented with different condensed and hydrolysable tannin extracts

Five groups of lambs (n = 9 each) were used to test the effect of plant extracts rich in hydrolysable (HT) or condensed tannin (CT) on animal performance, fatty acid composition of rumen content, liver and meat. The control group (CO) received a concentrate-based diet without tannins supplementation. The other groups received the same diet as the control lambs plus 4% chestnut (CH) and tara (TA) extracts as a source of HT and mimosa (MI) and gambier (GA) extracts as a source of CT. One-way ANOVA was used to assess the overall effect of dietary treatments, tannins supplementation (CO vs. CH+TA+MI+GA) and the effect of tannin type (HT vs. CT: CH+TA vs. MI+GA) on animal performance, rumen content, liver and intramuscular FA. Dietary CH negatively affected animal performance. The rumen content of the different groups showed similar levels of 18:3 c9c12c15, 18:2 c9c12, 18:2 c9t11, 18:1 t11 and 18:0, whereas 18:1 t10 was greater in CO. Also, 18:1 t10 tended to be lower in the rumen of HT than CT-fed lambs. These data were partially confirmed in liver and meat, where CO showed a greater percentage of individual trans 18:1 fatty acids in comparison with tannins-fed groups. Our findings challenge some accepted generalizations on the use of tannins in ruminant diets as they were ineffective to favour the accumulation of dietary PUFA or healthy fatty acids of biohydrogenation origin in the rumen content and lamb meat, but suggest a generalized influence on BH rather than on specific steps.

Atrazine intoxication in cattle, confirmed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Ten of 40 cows died within 48 h of gaining access to a barn in which various chemicals were stored. Some of the surviving cows exhibited drooling, muscle tremors, and agitation. Postmortem examinations of 2 cows were performed in the field, and revealed nonspecific, moderate-to-severe pulmonary congestion. Liver and rumen contents, each from a different cow, were analyzed using a qualitative, multi-residue GC-MS method validated for the detection of pesticides and other chemical analytes. Using this method, extracts from the liver and rumen content samples were compared to atrazine (neat standard) and matrix-matched, control samples fortified with atrazine. GC-MS analysis detected atrazine at 215 m/z (NIST match >97%) with a retention time of ~13 min in liver and rumen content samples from our case. Detection of atrazine in the samples from the cows in this herd, combined with the clinical history, indicate that atrazine toxicity was the likely cause of clinical signs and death observed in this herd.

Data of bacterial community dynamics resulting from total rumen content exchange in beef cattle

Objectives Extensive efforts have been made to characterize the rumen microbiome under various conditions. However, few studies have addressed the long-term impacts of ruminal microbiome dysbiosis and the extent of host control over microbiome stability. These data can also inform host-microbial symbioses. The objective was to develop preliminary data to measure the changes that occur in the rumen bacterial communities following a rumen content exchange to understand the effects major perturbations may impart upon the rumen microbiome, which may be host-driven. Data description We report here an initial rumen content exchange between two SimAngus (Simmental/Angus) non-pregnant, non-lactating cows of ~ 6 years of age weighing 603.4 ± 37.5 kg. To measure bacterial community succession and acclimation following the exchange, rumen content was collected via rumen cannula at the beginning of the study immediately prior to and following the rumen content exchange, and weekly for 12 weeks. The V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene was targeted for DNA sequencing and bacterial analysis. Over 12 weeks, numerous genera and diversity varied, before partial return to pre-exchange metrics. These preliminary data help support potential host control for the rumen microbiome, aiding in efforts to define bovine host-microbe relationships.

Ruminal Fistulation and Cannulation: A Necessary Procedure for the Advancement of Biotechnological Research in Ruminants

Rumen content is a complex mixture of feed, water, fermentation products, and living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, which vary over time and with different feeds. As it is impossible to reproduce this complex system in the laboratory, surgical fistulation and cannulation of the rumen is a powerful tool for the study (in vivo and in situ) of the physiology and biochemistry of the ruminant digestive system. Rumen fistulation in cattle, sheep, and goats has been performed extensively to advance our understanding of digestive physiology and development, nutrient degradability, and rumen microbial populations. The literature reports several fistulation and cannulation procedures in ruminants, which is not the focus of this paper. However, this method questions the ethical principles that alter the opinions of certain animal groups or those opposed to animal experimentation. In this article, we analyze the objectives of fistulation and cannulation of ruminants and the care needed to ensure that the welfare of the animal is maintained at all times. Due to the ethical issues raised by this technique, several in vitro digestion methods for simulating ruminal fermentation have been developed. The most relevant ones are described in this article. Independently of the procedure, we want to point out that research carried out with animals is obliged by legislation to follow strict ethical protocols, following the well-being and health status of the animal at all times.