The study on the feasibility of dietary supplementation with dimethyl silicone oil to prevent frothy rumen bloat in goats fed with high concentrate diets.

The current study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of high concentration diet (HCD) supplementation with Dimethyl Silicone Oil (DSO) to prevent frothy rumen bloat in goats. The treatments were control group (group C, feeding HCD) and test group (group T, feeding HCD supplemented with 0.1%DSO). The results showed that compared with the group C, the ruminal pH value, Microbial Crude Protein content of group T was extremely significantly higher (p < 0.01), the levels of acetic acid and propionic acid were significantly (p < 0.05) and extremely significantly (p < 0.01) lower in group T, respectively. The foam production and foam strength of the rumen fluid in the group T was extremely significantly lower (p < 0.01), the viscosity was extremely significantly (p < 0.01) higher than those of group C. The total gastrointestinal apparent digestibility of various nutrients, the rumen microbial relative abundance at the phylum level and genus level were not significantly different (p > 0.05). The results indicated that the supplementation of 0.1% DSO in HCD can significantly eliminate foam of the rumen fluid, and didn't disturb the ruminal microorganisms, no negatively affect on digestibility of nutrients in goats, thereby has the application prospect of preventing frothy rumen bloat.

The gas produced by rumen fermentation is wrapped in foam and cannot be discharged is the root cause of frothy bloat induced by a high concentration diet. In the present study, the feasibility of dietary supplementation with Dimethyl Silicone Oil (DSO) to prevent frothy bloat was preliminarily evaluated. The results indicated that DSO can significantly eliminate foam of the rumen fluid, and has not negatively effect on the ruminal microorganisms and the digestibility of nutrients in goats, thereby has the application prospect of preventing frothy bloat.

Comparison of coated and uncoated trace elements on growth performance, apparent digestibility, intestinal development and microbial diversity in growing sheep.

The suitable supplement pattern affects the digestion and absorption of trace minerals by ruminants. This study aimed to compare the effects of coated and uncoated trace elements on growth performance, apparent digestibility, intestinal development and microbial diversity in growing sheep. Thirty 4-month-old male Yunnan semi-fine wool sheep were randomly assigned to three treatments (n = 10) and fed with following diets: basal diet without adding exogenous trace elements (CON), basal diet plus 400 mg/kg coated trace elements (CTE, the rumen passage rate was 65.87%) and basal diet plus an equal amount of trace elements in uncoated form (UTE). Compared with the CON group, the average daily weight gain and apparent digestibility of crude protein were higher (P < 0.05) in the CTE and UTE groups, while there was no difference between the CTE and UTE groups. The serum levels of selenium, iodine and cobalt were higher (P < 0.05) in the CTE and UTE groups than those in the CON group, the serum levels of selenium and cobalt were higher (P < 0.05) in the CTE group than those in the UTE group. Compared with the CON and UTE groups, the villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in duodenum and ileum were higher (P < 0.05) in the CTE groups. The addition of trace minerals in diet upregulated most of the relative gene expression of Ocludin, Claudin-1, Claudin-2, ZO-1, and ZO-2 in the duodenum and jejunum and metal ion transporters (FPN1 and ZNT4) in small intestine. The relative abundance of the genera Christensenellaceae R-7 group, Ruminococcus 1, Lachnospiraceae NK3A20 group, and Ruminococcaceae in ileum, and Ruminococcaceae UCG-014 and Lactobacillus in colon was higher in the CTE group that in the CON group. These results indicated that dietary trace mineral addition improved the growth performance and intestinal development, and altered the structure of intestinal bacteria in growing sheep. Compared to uncoated form, offering trace mineral elements to sheep in coated form had a higher absorption efficiency, however, had little effect on improving growth performance of growing sheep.

Effects of dry yeast supplementation on growth performance, rumen fermentation characteristics, slaughter performance and microbial communities in beef cattle.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of active dry yeast (ADY) on growth performance, rumen microbial composition and carcass performance of beef cattle. Thirty-two finishing beef cattle (yak ♂ × cattle-yaks ♀), with an average body weight of 110 ± 12.85 kg, were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: the low plane of nutrition group (control), low plane of nutrition group + ADY 2 g/head daily (ADY2), low plane of nutrition group + ADY 4 g/head daily (ADY4) and the high plane of nutrition group (HPN). Supplementation of ADY increased average daily gain compared to the control group. The neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber apparent digestibility in HPN group was greater than that in control group. The propionic acid concentration in the rumen in ADY2, ADY4, and HPN groups was greater than that in control group. The Simpson and Shannon indexes in control and HPN groups were higher than that in ADY4 group. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Firmicutes in the HPN group was higher than that in ADY4 group. The relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae UCG-002 in ADY4 group was higher than that in control and HPN groups. In conclusion, supplementation ADY 4 g/head daily shift the rumen microbial composition of beef cattle fed low plane of nutrition to a more similar composition with cattle fed with HPN diet and produce the similar carcass weight with HPN diet.HighlightsThe ADY can improve the utilization of nitrogen and decrease the negative impact on the environment in beef cattle.Cattle fed low plane of nutrition diet supplemented with ADY 4 g/head daily increased growth performance.Supplementation ADY 4 g/head daily in low plane of nutrition diet might be produced comparable carcass weight to HPN diet.

Glutamine supplementation affected the gut bacterial community and fermentation leading to improved nutrient digestibility in growth-retarded yaks.

This study evaluated the effects of glutamine supplementation on nutrient digestibility, immunity, digestive enzyme activity, gut bacterial community and fermentation of growth-retarded yaks. A total of 16 growth-retarded yaks were randomly allocated to two groups: negative control (GRY) and glutamine supplementation group (GLN). Another eight growth-normal yaks were used as a positive control (GNY). Compared with GRY group, the crude protein digestibility was higher in GLN and GNY animals and the neutral detergent fiber digestibility was increased in GLN yaks. The concentrations of serum IgA, IgG, IgM and IL-10, as well as butyrate concentration and cellulase activity in the rumen and cecum were higher in GLN yaks compared to those in GRY animals. Supplementation with glutamine enhanced the chymotrypsin activity and increased the relative abundances of unclassified Peptostreptococcaceae and Romboutsia while decreased the relative abundances of unclassified Chitinophagaceae and Bacteroides in the jejunum and ileum of growth-retarded yaks. In the cecum, the relative abundance of unclassified Muribaculaceae was higher in GLN group than that in GRY group. The findings in this study suggest that the improved nutrient digestibility and immunity of growth-retarded yaks with glutamine supplementation may be through its potential impact on the lower gut host and microbial functions.

Metabonomic Responses of Grazing Yak to Different Concentrate Supplementations in Cold Season.

Supplementation plays an important role in reversing the weight loss of grazing yaks during cold season. However, little is known about the effect of supplementation on the serum metabolites of grazing yaks. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of supplementary feeding on average daily gain (ADG) and serum metabolites with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics method in growing yaks during cold season on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. Twenty 1.5-year-old female yaks (91.38 ± 10.43 kg LW) were evenly divided into three treatment groups and a control group (CON) (n = 5 per group). All the yaks were released to graze during daytime, whereas the yaks in the treatment groups were supplemented with highland barley (HLB), rapeseed meal (RSM), and highland barley plus rapeseed meal (HLB + RSM) at night. The whole experiment lasted for 120 days. Results indicated that the ADG of growing yak heifers was increased by concentrate supplementations, and ADG under HLB and HLB + RSM group was 37.5% higher (p < 0.05) than that with RSM supplementation. Supplementary feeding increased the plasma concentrations of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) of those in the CON group, and concentrations of BUN were higher in the RSM group than in the HLB and HLB + RSM group. Compared with the CON group, serum levels of glutamine, glycine, ß-glucose were lower and that of choline was higher in the HLB group; serum levels of lactate were lower and that of choline, glutamate were higher in the HLB + RSM group. Compared with the HLB + RSM group, serum levels of glycerophosphoryl choline (GPC) and lactate were higher, and those of choline, glutamine, glutamate, leucine, N-acetyaspartate, α-glucose, and ß-glucose were lower in the HLB group; serum levels of citrate, GPC and lactate were higher, and those of 3-Hydroxybutyrate, betaine, choline, glutamate, glutamine, N-acetylglycoprotein, N-acetyaspartate, α-glucose, and ß-glucose were lower in the RSM group. It could be concluded that concentrate supplementations significantly improved the growth performance of growing yaks and supplementation with HBL or HLB plus RSM was better than RSM during the cold season. Supplementation with HBL or HLB plus RSM affected the serum metabolites of grazing yaks, and both treatments promoted lipid synthesis. Supplementation of yaks with HBL plus RSM could improve energy-supply efficiency, protein and lipid deposition compared with HLB and RSM.

Effect of supplements during the cold season on the reproductive system in prepubertal Tibetan sheep ewes.

We examined the development of the reproductive system in prepubertal Tibetan sheep ewes when fed only oat hay (CON) or supplemented with either lick blocks (BS) or concentrate feed (CS) during the cold season. The average daily gain of the CS ewes was greater than that of the BS ewes (P < 0.05), which was greater than that of the CON ewes. The same pattern was observed in the number of ovarian follicles (P < 0.001), that is, CS > BS > CON. Serum concentrations of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteotrophic hormone, estradiol and progesterone in the CS and BS groups were higher than in the CON group (P < 0.05). The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of KiSS-1, GPR54 (G protein-coupled receptor 54), ERα (estradiol receptor α) in the hypothalamic anteroventral periventricular area of the CS group were higher than in both the BS and CON groups (P < 0.05), while the BS group was higher than in the CON group (P < 0.05). Similar differences among groups were observed for gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor mRNA expression in the pituitary, follicle-stimulating hormone receptor and luteinizing hormone receptor mRNA expression in the ovary. These results indicated that the KiSS1/GPR54 system was more active with nutrition or trace mineral supplementation during the cold season. The system stimulated the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and enhanced folliclar development in prepubertal Tibetan sheep ewes. We concluded that energy, protein and trace minerals supplements could improve the reproductive performance of Tibetan sheep on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.

Effects of dietary supplementation of active dried yeast on fecal methanogenic archaea diversity in dairy cows.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of different dosages of active dried yeast (ADY) on the fecal methanogenic archaea community of dairy cattle. Twelve multiparous, healthy, mid-lactating Holstein dairy cows (body weight: 584 ± 23.2 kg, milk produced: 26.3 ± 1.22 kg/d) were randomly assigned to one of three treatments (control, ADY2, and ADY4) according to body weight with four replicates per treatment. Cows in the control group were fed conventional rations without ADY supplementation, while cows in the ADY2 and ADY4 group were fed rations supplemented with ADY at 2 or 4 g/d/head. Real-time PCR analysis showed the populations of total methanogens in the feces were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the ADY4 group compared with control. High-throughput sequencing technology was applied to examine the differences in methanogenic archaea diversity in the feces of the three treatment groups. A total of 155,609 sequences were recovered (a mean of 12,967 sequences per sample) from the twelve fecal samples, which consisted of a number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) ranging from 1451 to 1,733, were assigned to two phyla, four classes, five orders, five families and six genera. Bioinformatic analyses illustrated that the natural fecal archaeal community of the control group was predominated by Methanobrevibacter (86.9% of the total sequence reads) and Methanocorpusculum (10.4%), while the relative abundance of the remaining four genera were below 1% with Methanosphaera comprising 0.8%, Thermoplasma composing 0.4%, and the relative abundance of Candidatus Nitrososphaera and Halalkalicoccus being close to zero. At the genus level, the relative abundances of Methanocorpusculum and Thermoplasma were increased (P < 0.05) with increasing dosage of ADY. Conversely, the predominant methanogen genus Methanobrevibacter was decreased with ADY dosage (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of ADY had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on the abundances of genera unclassified, Candidatus Nitrososphaera, and Halalkalicoccus. In conclusion, supplementation of ADY to the rations of dairy cattle could alter the population sizes and composition of fecal methanogenic archaea in the feces of dairy cattle. The decrease in Methanobrevibacter happened with a commensurate increase in the genera Methanocorpusculum and Thermoplasma.

Yeast Culture and Vitamin E Supplementation Alleviates Heat Stress in Dairy Goats.

This study was conducted to determine and compare the effects of yeast yeast culture (YC) and vitamin E (VE) supplementation on endotoxin absorption and antioxidant status in lactating dairy goats suffering from heat stress (HS). Three first lactation Saanen dairy goats (body weight 30±1.5 kg) were surgically fitted with indwelling catheters in the portal vein, mesenteric vein and carotid artery, and were randomly assigned to a 3×3 Latin square design. Dietary treatments were the basal diet, and the basal diet supplemented with either 100 IU VE or 30 g YC. Goats were kept in temperature and humidity-controlled room at 35°C from 8:00 to 20:00 and at 24°C from 20:00 till the next morning at 8:00. The relative humidity was kept at 55%. HS increased dairy goats' rectum temperature and respiration frequency (p<0.01). HS reduced plasma flux rate of milk goats (p<0.01), but the plasma flux rate increased when the animal was under the conditions of the thermo-neutral period (p<0.01). The VE supplementation lowered dairy goats' rectum temperature during thermo-neutral period (p<0.01). Meanwhile, no significant differences were observed between the control and YC treatment in rectum temperature and respiration frequency (p>0.05). Dietary supplementation of VE and YC reduced heat stressed dairy goats' endotoxin concentration of the carotid artery and portal vein (p<0.01). However, the endotoxin concentration of the YC treatment was higher than that of the VE treatment (p<0.01). Both VE and YC supplementation decreased heat stressed dairy goats' absorption of endotoxin in portal vein (p<0.01). The endotoxin absorption of YC treatment was higher than the VE treatment (p<0.01). The addition of VE and YC decreased dairy goats' superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentration during HS and the whole experiment period (p<0.01). The addition of VE lowered SOD concentration during thermo-neutral period (p<0.01). Likewise, the addition of VE and YC lowered dairy goats' malonaldehyde (MDA) concentration during HS and the whole experimental period, and the MDA concentration in the VE treatment was lower than the YC treatment (p<0.05). The addition of VE decreased MDA concentration during thermo-neutral period. On the contrast, the addition of VE increased dairy goats total antioxidant potential (TAP) concentration during HS, thermo-neutral and the whole experimental period (p<0.01). The addition of YC increased TAP concentration only during HS period (p<0.01). It is concluded that both VE and YC are useful in alleviating HS of dairy goats by weakening endotoxin absorption and promoting antioxidant capacity. Compared with YC, VE is much more powerful in easing dairy goats HS.

Coated zinc oxide improves intestinal immunity function and regulates microbiota composition in weaned piglets.

The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that low concentrations of coated ZnO, as a substitute for a high concentration of ZnO (2250 mg Zn/kg), could improve intestinal immunity function and regulate microbiota composition, thus alleviating the incidence of diarrhoea in weaned piglets. A total of eighty-four cross-bred piglets, weaned at an age of 28 (SEM 1) d, were allocated randomly, on the basis of average initial body weight (7·72 (SEM 0·65) kg), to seven treatment groups as follows: a 250 mg Zn (ZnO)/kg group (low Zn; LZ) and a 2250 mg Zn (ZnO)/kg group (high Zn; HZ) that were offered diets containing ZnO at 250 and 2250 mg Zn/kg, respectively; and five experimental groups in which coated ZnO was added at 250, 380, 570, 760 and 1140 mg Zn/kg basal diet, respectively. The trial lasted 2 weeks. The results indicated that, compared with LZ treatment, supplementation with coated ZnO at 380 or 570 mg Zn/kg reduced (P< 0·05) diarrhoea index, increased (P< 0·05) duodenal villus height and the ratio of villus height:crypt depth, up-regulated (P< 0·05) the gene expression of insulin-like growth factor 1, zonula occludens protein-1, occludin, IL-10 and transforming growth factor ß1, and elevated (P< 0·05) secretory IgA concentration in the jejunal mucosa. Microbiota richness and the Shannon diversity index were also decreased (P< 0·05). Furthermore, piglets in the group fed coated ZnO at 380 or 570 mg Zn/kg did not differ from those in the HZ-fed group in relation to the aforementioned parameters. Collectively, a low concentration of coated ZnO (380 or 570 mg Zn/kg) can alleviate the incidence of diarrhoea by promoting intestinal development, protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier from damage, stimulating the mucosal immune system and regulating the microbiota composition.

Effects of different levels of protein supplementary diet on gene expressions related to intramuscular deposition in early-weaned yaks.

This study was conducted to estimate different levels of protein supplementary diet on gene expressions related to intramuscular deposition in early-weaned yaks. Results showed that supplementary dietary protein significantly increased final weight, average daily gain (ADG), intramuscular fat (IMF), serum free fatty acid (FFA), total triglycerides, total cholesterol (Ch), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) content. There was a quadratic response of ADG, IMF, FFA, Ch, HDL and LDL to dietary crude protein (CP) level. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) enzyme activities were significantly increased by supplementary dietary CP, while hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1) activities were significantly decreased. LPL, ACC and FAS enzyme activities showed quadratic increase as dietary CP increased. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), LPL, FAS, sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), ACC, stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) and heart fatty-acid binding protein (H-FABP) gene expression were significantly increased by supplementary dietary CP, while HSL and CPT-1 gene expression were significantly decreased. PPARγ, LPL, SREBP-1, ACC and H-FABP gene expression showed quadratic increase as dietary CP increased. These results indicated that supplementary dietary protein increased IMF accumulation mainly to increased intramuscular lipogenic gene expression and decreased lipolytic gene expression.