Effect of propionate, monensin, and saccharomyces cerevisiae or their combination on production and rumen fermentation of holstein steers.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of calcium propionate (PrCa), PrCa + monensin sodium (PrCa + Mon), and PrCa + Saccharomyces cerevisiae (PrCa + Sc) on the productive performance of Holstein steers. Twenty-four Holstein steers (270.0 ± 25.85 kg) were distributed individually into four treatments of six replicates. The treatments were control (no additives), PrCa (10 g/kg), PrCa + Mon (10 g/kg + 30 mg/kg), and PrCa + Sc (10 g/kg + 12.8 × 109 cfu). The steers were fed for 43 days, and afterwards, nutrient intake and digestibility as well as volatile fatty acids were determined, while the weight gained, feed efficiency, and CH4 production were calculated. Diet of PrCa + Sc had the highest (P < 0.0001) acid detergent fiber intake and propionate acid as well as the nutrient digestibility, with lowest (P < 0.0001) rumen acetic acid, methane, and protozoa concentration versus other diets. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of PrCa + Sc (10 g/kg + 12.8 × 109 cfu) improved nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, and reduced methane emission, thereby enhancing the possibility of ecofriendly ruminant farming.

Use of Antibiotics in Equines and Their Effect on Metabolic Health and Cecal Microflora Activities.

In the race against deadly diseases, multiple drugs have been developed as a treatment strategy in livestock. Each treatment is based on a specific mechanism to find a suitable drug. Antibiotics have become a fundamental part of the equine industry to treat bacterial diseases. These antibiotics have specific doses and side effects, and understanding each parameter allows veterinarians to avoid or limit the adverse effects of such drugs. Use of antibiotics causes microbial imbalance, decreased microbial diversity and richness in both cecal and fecal samples. Antibiotics reduced metabolites production such as amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and vitamins, increased multi-resistant microbes, and gives opportunity to pathogenic microbes such as Clostridium perfringens and Salmonella spp., to overgrow. Therefore, appropriate use of these antibiotics in equine therapy will reduce the adverse consequence of antibiotics on cecal microbiota activities.

Influence of Dietary Supplementation of Ensiled Devil Fish and Staphylococcus saprophyticus on Equine Fecal Greenhouse Gases Production.

The present context was designed to investigate the efficacy of devil fish (DF; Plecostomus sp.) silage and Staphylococcus saprophyticus on fermentation characteristics as well as greenhouse gases production mitigation attributes in horses. Four levels of ensiled DF at 0 (control DF0), 6 (DF6), 12 (DF12), and 18 (DF18) % were added into the diet. Moreover, three doses of S. saprophyticus (0, 1, and 3 mL/g dry matter [DM]) were used for in vitro fecal fermentation. The use of ensiled DF resulted in increased (P < .0001) pH during fermentation. The asymptotic gas production was the highest (P < .0001) in DF6, whereas other supplementation caused lower production than that of control. Lag time for the asymptotic gas production decreased (P < .05) with increasing dietary DF doses. Inclusion of S. saprophyticus resulted in the lowest (P < .05) gas production and mL/0.5 g DM incubated and thus, the reduced gas production up to 23.17% than that of control. The interaction of DF × S. saprophyticus showed the lowest gas production at DF18, whereas the highest production was estimated at DF6 without S. saprophyticus after 48 hours. The lowest emission of CO2 (P < .0001) was observed in DF18 inclusion, which was 15.25% lower than that of control at 48 hours of fermentation. In contrast, the lowest hydrogen (H2) production was estimated in DF0, whereas DF18 exhibited the highest. Inclusion of DF12 and DF18 reduced (P < .05) methane (CH4) emission by 58.24% and 59.33%, respectively. However, DF, S. saprophyticus, and DF × S. saprophyticus interaction had no significant effect (P > .05) on CH4 production. In conclusion, ensiled DF and S. saprophyticus could be supplemented in equine diet as promising alternatives to corn for mitigating the emission of greenhouse gases effectively.