Application of NIRS for hay evaluation at different degrees of sample preparation.

Objective: A study compared the performance of the NIRS (Near-Infrared Spectroscopy) calibration models developed with different degrees of hay sample preparations. Methods: Spectral data of 1-mm ground or whole hay samples were regressed against wet chemistry results of moisture, NDF (neutral detergent fiber), ADF (acid detergent fiber), CP (crude protein), and IVDMD (in vitro dry matter digestibility). A total of 227 imported alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and another 360 timothy (Phleum pratense L.) hay samples were used to develop the calibration models. The models developed with ground hay samples were more robust and accurate than whole hay based on cross-validation's R2 (coefficient of determination), standard error, and RPD (ratio percentage deviation). Results: The R2 of cross-validation ranged from 0.61 (moisture of alfalfa) to 0.95 (CP prediction of timothy). Although R2 of calibration models was mainly greater than 0.90, the R2 of cross-validations remained marginal. Conclusion: Estimation of nutrient concentrations in imported hay can be achieved by calibrated NIRS. The NIRS calibration models must be improved by including more imported hay samples from different years and origins. Although the analysis accuracy of NIRS was substantially higher when calibration models were developed with ground samples, less sample preparation will be more advantageous for achieving rapid delivery of hay sample analysis results. Therefore, further research warrants investigating the level of sample preparation inputs compromising analysis accuracy by NIRS.

Effects of sodium diacetate and microbial inoculants on fermentation of forage rye.

Rye (Secale cereale L.) is a valuable annual forage crop in Korea but there is limited information about the impact of chemical and biological additives on fermentation characteristics of the crop. This experiment was conducted to investigate fermentation dynamics of wilted forage rye treated with the following six additives; control (no additive), sodium diacetate applied at 3 g/kg wilted forage weight (SDA3), 6 g/kg wilted forage weight (SDA6), inoculations (106 CFU/g wilted forage) of Lactobacillus plantarum (LP), L. buchneri (LB), or LP+LB. The ensiled rye sampled at 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 45 days indicated that the acidification occurred fast within five days of storage than the rest of the storage period. The microbial inoculants decline the pH of ensiled forage, more rapidly than the control or SDA treated, which accompanied by the decrease of water-soluble carbohydrates and increase of lactic acid. Compared with the control silage, all treatments suppressed ammonia-nitrogen formation below to 35 g/kg DM throughout the sampling period. Suppression of total microbial counting occurred in SDA6, LP, and LP + LB. The lactic acid production rates were generally higher in microbial inoculation treatments. Acetic acid concentration was lowest in the LP-treated silage and highest in the SDA- and LB-treated silages. The in vitro dry matter (DM) digestibility and total digestible nutrients were the highest in the silage treated with SDA (6 g/kg) at day 45 of ensiling. Based on lower ammonia-nitrogen concentrations and higher feed value, ensiling forage rye treated with SDA at 6 g/kg is promising through enhanced silage quality.

Effects of sodium diacetate or microbial inoculants on aerobic stability of wilted rye silage.

OBJECTIVE: The primary goal was to identify the effectiveness of chemical or biological additives in delaying the deterioration of early-harvested wilted rye silage after exposure to air. METHODS: Rye harvested as a whole plant at the early heading stage was wilted for 24 h. The wilted forage was divided into treatments including sodium diacetate (SDA) at 3 (SDA3) and 6 g/kg (SDA6), Lactobacillus plantarum (LP), L. buchneri (LB), or their equal mixture (LP+LB) at 1×106 colony-forming unit/g fresh matter. RESULTS: After 60 d of conservation in 20-L silos, lactic acid was greater in LP and LP+LB silages than other treatments (102 vs 90.2 g/kg dry matter [DM]). Acetic acid was greatest in SDA6 (32.0 g/kg DM) followed by LB (26.1 g/kg DM) and was lowest in LP treatment (4.73 g/kg DM). Silage pH was lower with microbial inoculation and the lowest and highest values were observed in LP and untreated silages, respectively. After 60 d, neutral detergent fiber concentration was lowest in SDA6 silages, resulting in the greatest in vitro DM digestibility (846 g/kg DM). Aerobic stability was longest in SDA6 (176 h) followed by LB treatment (134 h). Instability after aerobiosis was greatest in LP silages (68 h), about 8 h less than untreated silages. After aerobic exposure, yeast and mold numbers were lowest in SDA6 silages, resulting in DM loss minimization. Exhaustion of acetic acid and lactic acid after aerobic exposure was lowest with SDA6 but greatest with untreated and LP silages. CONCLUSION: Treatment of early-cut wilted rye forage with SDA at 6 g/kg resulted in silages with higher feeding value and fermentation quality, and substantially delayed deterioration after aerobic exposure, potentially qualifying SDA at this load for promotion of silage quality and delaying aerobic spoilage of early-harvested (low DM) rye forage.

Evaluation of forage production, feed value, and ensilability of proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.).

Whole-plant corn (Zea may L.) and sorghum-sudangrass hybrid [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] are major summer crops that can be fed as direct-cut or silage. Proso millet is a short-season growing crop with distinct agronomic characteristics that can be productive in marginal lands. However, information is limited about the potential production, feed value, and ensilability of proso millet forage. We evaluated proso millet as a silage crop in comparison with conventional silage crops. Proso millet was sown on June 8 and harvested on September 5 at soft-dough stage. Corn and sorghum-sudangrass hybrid were planted on May 10 and harvested on September 10 at the half milk-line and soft-dough stages, respectively. The fermentation was evaluated at 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 days after ensiling. Although forage yield of proso millet was lower than corn and sorghum-sudangrass hybrid, its relative feed value was greater than sorghum-sudangrass hybrid. Concentrations of dry matter (DM), crude protein, and water-soluble carbohydrate decreased commonly in the ensiling forage crops. The DM loss was greater in proso millet than those in corn and sorghum-sudangrass hybrid. The in vitro dry matter digestibility declined in the forage crops as fermentation progressed. In the early stages of fermentation, pH dropped rapidly, which was stabilized in the later stages. Compared to corn and sorghum-sudangrass hybrid, the concentration of ammonia-nitrogen was greater in proso millet. The count of lactic acid bacteria reached the maximum level on day 10, with the values of 6.96, 7.77, and 6.95 Log10 CFU/g fresh weight for proso millet, corn, and sorghum-sudangrass hybrid, respectively. As ensiling progressed, the concentrations of lactic acid and acetic acid of the three crops increased and lactic acid proportion became higher in the order of sorghum-sudangrass hybrid, corn, and proso millet. Overall, the shorter, fast-growing proso millet comparing with corn and sorghum-sudangrass hybrid makes this forage crop an alternative option, particularly in areas where agricultural inputs are limited. However, additional research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of viable strategies such as chemical additives or microbial inoculants to minimize ammonia-nitrogen formation and DM loss during ensiling.

Feeding Systems and Host Breeds Influence Ruminal Fermentation, Methane Production, Microbial Diversity and Metagenomic Gene Abundance.

Our previous research revealed the advantages of separate feeding (SF) systems compared to total mixed ration (TMR) in terms of ruminal methane (CH4) production. The purpose of this experiment was to confirm the advantage of SF as a nutritional strategy for CH4 mitigation, and to determine the effects of different feeding systems (TMR and SF) on the rumen microbiome and associated metagenome of two different breeds and on CH4 emissions. We randomly allocated four Holstein (305 ± 29 kg) and four Hanwoo steers (292 ± 24 kg) to two groups; the steers were fed a commercial concentrate with tall fescue (75:25) as TMR or SF, in a crossover design (two successive 22-day periods). Neither feeding systems nor cattle breeds had an effect on the total tract digestibility of nutrients. The TMR feeding system and Hanwoo steers generated significantly more CH4 (P < 0.05) and had a higher yield [g/d and g/kg dry matter intake (DMI)] compared to the SF system and Holstein steers. A larger rumen acetate:propionate ratio was observed for the TMR than the SF diet (P < 0.05), and for Hanwoo than Holstein steers (P < 0.001), clearly reflecting a shift in the ruminal H2 sink toward CH4 production. The linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) revealed a greater abundance (α < 0.05 and LDA > 2.0) of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) related to methanogenesis for Hanwoo steers compared to Holstein steers. Kendall's correlation analysis revealed wide variation of microbial co-occurrence patterns between feeding systems, indicating differential H2 thermodynamics in the rumen. A metagenome analysis of rumen microbes revealed the presence of 430 differentially expressed genes, among which 17 and 27 genes exhibited positive and negative associations with CH4 production, respectively (P < 0.001). A strong interaction between feeding system and breed was observed for microbial and metagenomic abundance. Overall, these results suggest that the TMR feeding system produces more CH4, and that Hanwoo cattle are higher CH4 emitters than SF diet and Holstein cattle, respectively. Interestingly, host-associated microbial interactions differed within each breed depending on the feeding system, which indicated that breed-specific feeding systems should be taken into account for farm management.

Developing Equations for Converting Digestible Energy to Metabolizable Energy for Korean Hanwoo Beef Cattle.

This study was performed to update and generate prediction equations for converting digestible energy (DE) to metabolizable energy (ME) for Korean Hanwoo beef cattle, taking into consideration the gender (male and female) and body weights (BW above and below 350 kg) of the animals. The data consisted of 141 measurements from respiratory chambers with a wide range of diets and energy intake levels. A simple linear regression of the overall unadjusted data suggested a strong relationship between the DE and ME (Mcal/kg DM): ME = 0.8722 × DE + 0.0016 (coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.946, root mean square error (RMSE) = 0.107, p < 0.001 for intercept and slope). Mixed-model regression analyses to adjust for the effects of the experiment from which the data were obtained similarly showed a strong linear relationship between the DE and ME (Mcal/kg of DM): ME = 0.9215 × DE - 0.1434 (R2 = 0.999, RMSE = 0.004, p < 0.001 for the intercept and slope). The DE was strongly related to the ME for both genders: ME = 0.8621 × DE + 0.0808 (R2 = 0.9600, RMSE = 0.083, p < 0.001 for the intercept and slope) and ME = 0.7785 × DE + 0.1546 (R2 = 0.971, RMSE = 0.070, p < 0.001 for the intercept and slope) for male and female Hanwoo cattle, respectively. By BW, the simple linear regression similarly showed a strong relationship between the DE and ME for Hanwoo above and below 350 kg BW: ME = 0.9833 × DE - 0.2760 (R2 = 0.991, RMSE = 0.055, p < 0.001 for the intercept and slope) and ME = 0.72975 × DE + 0.38744 (R2 = 0.913, RMSE = 0.100, p < 0.001 for the intercept and slope), respectively. A multiple regression using the DE and dietary factors as independent variables did not improve the accuracy of the ME prediction (ME = 1.149 × DE - 0.045 × crude protein + 0.011 × neutral detergent fibre - 0.027 × acid detergent fibre + 0.683).

Effects of formic acid and lactic acid bacteria inoculant on main summer crop silages in Korea.

To improve the fermentation quality of silage and reduce the nutrients loss of raw materials during the ensiling process, silage additives are widely used. The effect of additives on silage is also affected by the species of crop. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the effects of formic acid (FA) and lactic acid bacterial inoculant on the quality of main summer crop silage. The experiment was consisted on split-plot design with three replications. The experiment used the main summer forage crops of proso millet ("Geumsilchal"), silage corn ("Gwangpyeongok"), and a sorghum-sudangrass hybrid ("Turbo-gold"). Treatments included silage with Lactic acid bacterial Inoculant (Lactobacillus plantarum [LP], 1.0 × 106 CFU/g fresh matter), with FA (98%, 5 mL/kg), and a control (C, without additive). All silages were stored for 60 days after preparation. All additives significantly increased the crude protein content and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of the silages and also reduced the content of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and pH. Corn had the highest content of IVDMD, total digestible nutrients and relative feed value among silages. Compared with the control, irrespective of whether FA or LP was added, the water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) of three crops was largely preserved and the WSC content in the proso millet treated with FA was the highest. The treatment of LP significantly increased the lactic acid content of the all silage, while the use of FA significantly increased the content of acetic acid (p < 0.05). The highest count of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) was detected in the LP treatment of corn. In all FA treatment groups, the total microorganism and mold numbers were significantly lower than those of the control and LP groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, both additives improved the fermentation quality and nutritional composition of the main summer forage crops. The application of FA effectively inhibited the fermentation of the three crops, whereas LAB promoted fermentation. So, both FA and LP can improve the quality of various species of silage.

Effect of harvest dates on ß-carotene content and forage quality of rye (Secale cereale L.) silage and hay.

Limited data about the effects of various factors on forage quality and ß-carotene content of rye produced in Korea are available, so this study investigated the effects of two preservation methods. Samples were collected from rye harvested every 5 days between April 25 and May 31, and comparisons were done among rye silage wilted for different periods of time and hay of three growth stages of rye. For the silage, dry matter (DM), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents increased with advanced maturity of rye, whereas crude protein, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), total digestible nutrients (TDN), relative feed value (RFV), and DM loss decreased (p < 0.0001). Wilting increased the DM content and pH value significantly (p < 0.0001). Silage harvested at the heading stage had the lowest pH value (4.45), propionic acid (0.83 g/kg DM), butyric acid (0 g/kg DM), and fungi and yeast populations (3.70 Log CFU/g of fresh matter [FM]); conversely, it had the highest lactic acid (9.7 g/kg DM), lactic acid bacteria (LAB) (6.87 Log CFU/g of FM), total microorganisms (TM) (7.33 Log CFU/g of FM), and Flieg's score (70) (p < 0.0001). Wilting elevated LAB and TM populations, but it had no consistent effect on other fermentation products. Both delayed harvest and prolonged wilting decreased ß-carotene content. Rye silage harvested around May 9 (heading stage) with 24 h of wilting was preferred for highland, Pyeongchang. For rye hay, advanced maturity decreased DM loss, IVDMD, TDN, and RFV, but it increased DM, ADF, and NDF significantly (p < 0.05). ß-carotene was decreased by delay of hay-making. Consequently, to attain lower DM loss and higher hay quality, the harvest date of May 9 (heading stage) is recommended.

Changes in fermentation pattern and quality of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) silage by wilting and inoculant treatments.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of wilting and microbial inoculant treatment on the fermentation pattern and quality of Italian ryegrass silage. METHODS: Italian ryegrass was harvested at heading stage and ensiled into vinyl bags (20 cm×30 cm) for 60d. Italian ryegrass was ensiled with 4 treatments (NWNA, no-wilting noadditive; NWA, no-wilting with additive; WNA, wilting no-additive; WA, wilting with additive) in 3 replications, wilting time was 5 hours and additives were treated with 106 cfu/g of Lactobacillus plantarum. The silages samples were collected at 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60 days after ensiling and analyzed for the ensiling quality and characteristics of fermentation patterns. RESULTS: Wilting treatment resulted in lower crude protein and in vitro dry matter digestibility and there were no significant differences in acid detergent fiber (ADF), total digestible nutrient (TDN), water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC), ammonia content, and pH (p>0.05). However, wilting treatment resulted in higher ADF and neutral detergent fiber content of Italian ryegrass silage (p<0.05), and the WNA treatment showed the lowest TDN and in vitro dry matter digestibility. The pH of the silage was higher in the wilting group (WNA and WA) and lower in the additive treatment group. Meanwhile, the decrease in pH occurred sharply between the 3-5th day of storage. The ammonia nitrogen content was significantly lower in the additive treatment (p<0.05), and wilting had no effect. As fermentation progressed, the lactic and acetic acid contents were increased and showed the highest content at 30 days of storage. CONCLUSION: The wilting treatment did not significantly improve the silage fermentation, but the inoculant treatment improved the fermentation patterns and quality of the silage. So, inoculation before ensiling is recommended when preparing high quality of Italian ryegrass silage, and when wilting, it is recommended to combine inoculation for making high quality silage.

Erratum to: Study on the fatty acid profile of phospholipid and neutral lipid in Hanwoo beef and their relationship to genetic variation.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.5187/jast.2019.61.2.69.].

Study on the fatty acid profile of phospholipid and neutral lipid in Hanwoo beef and their relationship to genetic variation.

Maize which has very high omega-6 fatty acid content has been used as a main feed grain for Hanwoo beef production to increase marbling, and thus omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids ratio in Hanwoo beef is expected to be biased. To elucidate the current status of omega fatty acids ratio in Hanwoo beef, fatty acid profiles of neutral lipid and phospholipid fraction were analyzed separately using 55 Hanwoo steers' longissimus dorsi muscle slaughtered at Pyeongchang, Korea from Oct. to Nov. 2015. In addition, an association study was conducted to evaluate associations between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers from references and omega fatty acid profiles in phospholipid of Hanwoo beef samples using analysis of variance (ANOVA). In neutral lipid fraction, composition of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids was higher and polyunsaturated fatty acids was lower compared to those in phospholipid fraction. The mean n-6/n-3 ratios of Hanwoo were 56.059 ± 16.180 and 26.811 ± 6.668 in phospholipid and neutral lipid, respectively. There were three SNPs showing statistically significant associations with omega fatty acid content. GA type of rs41919985 in fatty acid synthase (FASN) was significantly associated with the highest amount of C20:5 n-3 (p = 0.031). CC type of rs41729173 in fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) was significantly associated with the lowest amount of C22:2n-6 (p = 0.047). AG type of rs42187261 in FADS1 was significantly linked to the lowest concentration of C20:4 n-6 (p = 0.044). The total n-6/n-3 ratio of the steer which has all four SNP types in above loci (27.905) was much lower than the mean value of the total n-6/n-3 ratio in phospholipid of the 55 Hanwoo steers (56.059 ± 16.180). It was found that phospholipid and neutral lipid of Hanwoo have very high n-6/n-3 ratios compared to the reported data from different cow breeds. Four SNPs in genes related with fatty acid metabolism showed significant associations with the fatty acid profile of phospholipid and may have potential as SNP markers to select Hanwoo steers in terms of n-6/n-3 balance in the future.

Effects of Angelica gigas Nakai on the production of decursin- and decursinol angelate-enriched eggs.

BACKGROUND: The livestock industry requires high-quality products, as well as improved productivity. There have been many studies regarding the utilization of feed additives aiming to increase productivity, enhance immune functions and prevent infectious diseases in livestock. Biofunctional feed additives would be beneficial not only for animal health, but also for consumers. In the present study, we utilized root and byproduct (stem and leaf) powders of Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN, Korean Danggui) as feed additives and examined the deposition of biofunctional compounds, such as decursin and decursinol angelate, into egg white and yolk. RESULTS: We optimized the detection system for decursin and decursinol angelate, and determined the amounts of decursin and decursinol angelate derived from AGN byproducts (stem and leaf) as well as root. In Experiment 1, laying hens were fed with the dried AGN root powder and the effective compounds were detected in egg white and yolk. Subsequently, in Experiment 2, we examined AGN byproducts as an alternative feeding supplement. Additionally, biochemical parameters were analyzed to evaluate changes in the health of the hens by feeding AGN root powder. The results obtained indicated that decursin and decursinol angelate were stably transferred into egg white and yolk by feeding AGN byproducts as well as root. Intriguingly, plasma cholesterol levels were significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner, and those of interleukin-1ß, as an immune-related biomarker, were considerably increased in the treated hens. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that AGN root and byproducts (stem and leaf) could be utilized for the production of value-added eggs and improving the health of hens in the poultry industry. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Molecular analysis of alternative transcripts of equine AXL receptor tyrosine kinase gene.

OBJECTIVE: Since athletic performance is a most importance trait in horses, most research focused on physiological and physical studies of horse athletic abilities. In contrast, the molecular analysis as well as the regulatory pathway studies remain insufficient for evaluation and prediction of horse athletic abilities. In our previous study, we identified AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL) gene which was expressed as alternative spliced isoforms in skeletal muscle during exercise. In the present study, we validated two AXL alternative splicing transcripts (named as AXLa for long form and AXLb for short form) in equine skeletal muscle to gain insight(s) into the role of each alternative transcript during exercise. METHODS: We validated two isoforms of AXL transcripts in horse tissues by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and then cloned the transcripts to confirm the alternative locus and its sequences. Additionally, we examined the expression patterns of AXLa and AXLb transcripts in horse tissues by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: Both of AXLa and AXLb transcripts were expressed in horse skeletal muscle and the expression levels were significantly increased after exercise. The sequencing analysis showed that there was an alternative splicing event at exon 11 between AXLa and AXLb transcripts. 3-dimentional (3D) prediction of the alternative protein structures revealed that the structural distance of the connective region between fibronectin type 3 (FN3) and immunoglobin (Ig) domain was different between two alternative isoforms. CONCLUSION: It is assumed that the expression patterns of AXLa and AXLb transcripts would be involved in regulation of exercise-induced stress in horse muscle possibly through an NF-κB signaling pathway. Further study is necessary to uncover biological function(s) and significance of the alternative splicing isoforms in race horse skeletal muscle.

Comparative analysis of the microbial communities in raw milk produced in different regions of Korea.

OBJECTIVE: The control of psychrotrophic bacteria causing milk spoilage and illness due to toxic compounds is an important issue in the dairy industry. In South Korea, Gangwon-do province is one of the coldest terrains in which eighty percent of the area is mountainous regions, and mainly plays an important role in the agriculture and dairy industries. The purposes of this study were to analyze the indigenous microbiota of raw milk in Gangwon-do and accurately investigate a putative microbial group causing deterioration in milk quality. METHODS: We collected raw milk from the bulk tank of 18 dairy farms in the Hoengseong and Pyeongchang regions of Gangwon-do. Milk components were analyzed and the number of viable bacteria was confirmed. The V3 and V4 regions of 16S rRNA gene were amplified and sequenced on an Illumina Miseq platform. Sequences were then assigned to operational taxonomic units, followed by the selection of representative sequences using the QIIME software package. RESULTS: The milk samples from Pyeongchang were higher in fat, protein, lactose, total solid, and solid non-fat, and bacterial cell counts were observed only for the Hoengseong samples. The phylum Proteobacteria was detected most frequently in both the Hoengseong and Pyeongchang samples, followed by the phyla Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. Notably, Corynebacterium, Pediococcus, Macrococcus, and Acinetobacter were significantly different from two regions. CONCLUSION: Although the predominant phylum in raw milk is same, the abundances of major genera in milk samples were different between Hoengseong and Pyeongchang. We assumed that these differences are caused by regional dissimilar farming environments such as soil, forage, and dairy farming equipment so that the quality of milk raw milk from Pyeongchang is higher than that of Hoengseong. These results could provide the crucial information for identifying the microbiota in raw milk of South Korea.

Development of a new lactic acid bacterial inoculant for fresh rice straw silage.

OBJECTIVE: Effects of newly isolated Lactobacillus plantarum on the fermentation and chemical composition of fresh rice straw silage was evaluated in this study. METHODS: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from good crop silage were screened by growing them in MRS broth and a minimal medium with low carbohydrate content. Selected LAB (LAB 1821) were Gram-positive, rods, catalase negative, and were identified to be Lactobacillus plantarum based on their biochemical characteristics and a 16S rRNA analysis. Fresh rice straw was ensiled with two isolated LAB (1821 and 1841), two commercial inoculants (HM/F and P1132) and no additive as a control. RESULTS: After 2 months of storage at ambient temperature, rice straw silages treated with additives were well-preserved, the pH values and butyric and acetic acid contents were lower, and the lactic acid content and lactic/acetic acid ratio were higher than those in the control (p<0.05). Acidity (pH) was lowest, and lactic acid highest, in 1821-treated silage (p<0.05). The NH3-N content decreased significantly in inoculant-treated silage (p<0.05) and the NH3-N content in 1821-treated silage was lowest among the treatments. The dry matter (DM) content of the control silage was lower than that of fresh rice straw (p<0.05), while that of the 1841- and p1174-inoculant-treated silages was significantly higher than that of HM/F-treated silage. Microbial additives did not have any significant (p>0.05) effect on acid detergent fiber or neutral detergent fiber contents. Crude protein (CP) content and in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) increased after inoculation of LAB 1821 (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: LAB 1821 increased the CP, IVDMD, lactic acid content and ratio of lactic acid to acetic acid in rice straw silage and decreased the pH, acetic acid, NH3-N, and butyric acid contents. Therefore, adding LAB 1821 improved the fermentation quality and feed value of rice straw silage.

De Novo assembly and comparative analysis of the Enterococcus faecalis genome (KACC 91532) from a Korean Neonate.

Using a newly constructed de novo assembly pipeline, finished genome level assembly had been conducted for the probiotic candidate strain E. faecalis KACC 91532 isolated from a stool samples of Korean neonates. Our gene prediction identified 3,061 genes in the assembled genome of the strain. Among these, nine genes were specific only for the E. faecalis KACC 91532, compared with all of the four known reference genomes (EF62, D32, V583, OG1RF). We identified genes related to phenotypic characters and detected E. faecalis KACC 91532-specific evolutionarily accelerated genes using dN/dS analysis. From these results, we found the potential risk of KACC 91532 as a useful probiotic strain and identified some candidate genetic variations that could affect the function of enzymes.

Comparison of quality traits of meat from korean native chickens and broilers used in two different traditional korean cuisines.

With the aim of investigating the differences in the quality traits between Korean native chicken (Hanhyup, KNC) and broilers commonly used in two different traditional Korean cuisines, the chemical composition and sensory properties of breast and thigh meat from the two chicken strains were assessed. KNC for baeksuk (chicken meat braised in soup with various Oriental medicinal plants; KNL), KNC for samgyetang (similar to baeksuk but young chickens and ginseng are used; KNS), broiler for baeksuk (BL), and broiler for samgyetang (BS) were used as treatments in this study. KNL and KNS contained higher protein but lower fat content than BL and BS. The L* values of breast and thigh meat, but not the a* values, were significantly different between KNS and BS, whereas significant differences in both values were observed between KNL and BL. Compared to the other three types of chickens, KNS contained the highest total and insoluble collagen content, and KNL and BL showed higher inosine-5'-monophosphate content in their meat. Overall, KNL and KNS contributed darker, less tender meat with higher protein and less fat content together with more n-3 fatty acids, as opposed to their counterparts used for the same cuisines. Based on the results of the sensory analysis, even though there are some differences in physiochemical traits, different chicken sources do not differ in overall sensory quality. This information can help consumers to understand better the meat available for their preferred traditional cuisines.

Zinc-chelated Vitamin C Stimulates Adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 Cells.

Adipose tissue development and function play a critical role in the regulation of energy balance, lipid metabolism, and the pathophysiology of metabolic syndromes. Although the effect of zinc ascorbate supplementation in diabetes or glycemic control is known in humans, the underlying mechanism is not well described. Here, we investigated the effect of a zinc-chelated vitamin C (ZnC) compound on the adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Treatment with ZnC for 8 d significantly promoted adipogenesis, which was characterized by increased glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and intracellular lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. Meanwhile, ZnC induced a pronounced up-regulation of the expression of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) and the adipocyte-specific gene adipocyte protein 2 (aP2). Analysis of mRNA and protein levels further showed that ZnC increased the sequential expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), the key transcription factors of adipogenesis. These results indicate that ZnC could promote adipogenesis through PPARγ and C/EBPα, which act synergistically for the expression of aP2 and GLUT4, leading to the generation of insulin-responsive adipocytes and can thereby be useful as a novel therapeutic agent for the management of diabetes and related metabolic disorders.

Characteristics of primary and immortalized fibroblast cells derived from the miniature and domestic pigs.

BACKGROUND: The pig, Sus scrofa domestica includes both the miniature and commercial domestic breed. These animals have influenced the human life and economies and have been studied throughout history. Although the miniature breeds are more recent and have increasingly been used in a variety of biomedical studies, their cell lines have rarely been established. Therefore, we sought to establish primary and immortal cell lines derived from both the miniature and domestic pig to better enable insight into possible in vivo growth differences. RESULTS: The in vitro lifespan of primary domestic pig fibroblast (PF) and miniature pig fibroblast (MPF) cells using a standard 3T3 protocol was determined. Both of the primary PF and MPF cells were shown to have a two-step replicative senescence barrier. Primary MPF cells exhibited a relatively shorter lifespan and slower proliferation rate compared to those of primary PF cells. Beyond senescence barriers, lifespan-extended PF and MPF cells were eventually established and indicated spontaneous cellular immortalization. In contrast to the immortalized PF cells, immortal MPF cells showed a transformed phenotype and possessed more frequent chromosomal abnormalities and loss of p53 regulatory function. The lifespan of primary MPF and PF cells was extended by inactivation of the p53 function using transduction by SV40LT without any detectable senescent phenotype. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that p53 signaling might be a major determinant for the replicative senescence in the MPF cells that have the shorter lifespan and slower growth rate compared to PF cells in vitro.

First emulsion polymerization of styrene with sodium borohydride: evidence of the generation of radical intermediates by sodium borohydride in H2O.

Emulsion polymerization of styrene with sodium borohydride (NaBH4) in an aqueous sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution was successfully accomplished for the first time. Polystyrene with a high molecular weight (M(w) > 2 000 000) and a broad molecular weight distribution (MWD approximately 3.5) was obtained in a conversion of less than 30%. Several pieces of evidence that the polymerization proceeded through radical intermediates were observed. Variations in the concentration of NaBH4 showed a critical range in said concentration, i.e., a borderline that determined whether the main reaction was directed to either a polymerization or a competed reaction with variations in the NaBH4 level. Kinetic studies on the emulsion polymerization of styrene with NaBH4 performed at 50, 55, and 60 degrees C showed that the initiator had an approximately 50-min induction period. A plot of -ln(1 - X), where X is the fractional conversion, as a function of time resulted in a linear relationship, showing that the present initiator system followed first-order kinetics with respect to monomer concentration. The Arrhenius plot between ln k vs 1/T gave a good linear relation, and the overall activation energy was observed to be about 37.5 kcal/mol. The employment of CH3I with NaBH4 significantly increased conversion (>95%) and provided polystyrene with a well-controlled Mw and MWD (<2.3).