Effects of sodium butyrate and active Bacillus amyloliquefaciens supplemented to pasteurized waste milk on growth performance and health condition of Holstein dairy calves.

The objectives of the present study were to examine the impact of feeding both probiotics and sodium butyrate on calf performance and the economic implication of each treatment. A completely randomized design was used to investigate body weight (BW) gain, feed conversion efficiency and health conditions of Holstein dairy calves fed either pasteurized waste milk (PWM; n = 9) or a non-medicated milk replacer containing sodium butyrate and active probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (NMR; n = 9) from birth to 60 days of age. Numerically, calves fed PWM consumed more starter feed between days 16 and 45 than calves fed NMR but the difference became smaller by 60 days. Birth weights and colostrum IgG and serum total protein concentrations did not differ (p > 0.05) between the PWM and NMR calves. Calves receiving PWM had slightly greater BW at days 30 and 45, but were similar to that of calves receiving NMR at day 60. No differences were observed between PWM and NMR-calves for BW gains, flank height, hip width and health conditions (p < 0.05). Calves fed NMR had more watery feces but less frequent bouts of coughing than PWM-fed calves. Feed cost was higher (p < 0.001) for PWM-fed calves than NMR-fed calves during the experimental period. Dairy calves receiving NMR fortified with sodium butyrate and Bacillus probiotic could perform as similar as calves receiving PWM, and they had similar economic efficiency during the 60-d study period.

Synergetic action between the rumen microbiota and bovine health.

Host-rumen-microbe interactions are essential components of many physiological processes, and therefore can affect ruminant health. Classical knowledge of rumen microbiology is based on culture-dependent methodologies, which only account for 10-20% of the rumen bacterial communities. While, the advancement in DNA sequencing and bioinformatics platforms provide novel approaches to investigate the composition and dynamics of the rumen microbiota. Recent studies demonstrated that the ruminal ecosystem is highly diverse and harbors numerous microbial communities. The composition of these microbial communities are affected by various environmental factors such as nutrition and different management strategies. Disturbance in the microbial ecology of the rumen is associated with the development of various diseases. Despite the flow of recent rumen-based studies, rumen microbiota is still not fully characterized. This review provides an overview of recent efforts to characterize rumen microbiota and its potential role in rumen health and disease. Moreover, the recent effects of dietary interventions and probiotics on rumen microbiota are discussed.

Susceptibility of ruminal bacteria isolated from large and small ruminant to multiple conventional antibiotics.

The pivotal aim of the present context was to isolate diversified group of bacteria from the ruminants and to evaluate their antibiogram pattern against 22 antibiotics of 14 different classes. The bacterial isolates from small and large ruminant (sheep, cattle and calves) were isolated from the rumen based on various colonies morphology, and subjected for preliminary antibiotics susceptibility assay using disc diffusion method. The most sensitive isolates (based on zone of inhibition) were selected for determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of each antibiotic ranging from 1 to 256 µg/mL. Results revealed the concentration dependent growth inhibitory property of antibiotics a species-specific process. The maximum tolerable concentration (MTC) of each antibiotic was further determined using disc diffusion method, and results exhibited that the tolerance nature of ruminal isolates to antibiotics is a species-specific mechanism. Based on the MIC and MTC values of antibiotics, amikacin, ciprofloxacin, and amoxicilline were observed to be the most potent antibiotics in terms of inhibiting the growth of ruminal isolates. In brief, the findings of the current study showed that despite the overexploitation of antibiotics as additives in the animal's feed, most of the ruminal isolates are sensitive to multiple conventional antibiotics tested. The growth inhibitory trait of antibiotics proves these antimicrobials a propitious agent against the pathogenesis of ruminal isolates in livestock.

Role of dose dependent Escherichia coli as ruminal anti-microflora agent to mitigate biogases production in prickly pear cactus flour based diet.

The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of Escherichia coli against the ruminal microflora fermentation activities in the mitigation of CH4 and CO2 production as well as ruminal fermentation kinetics by substituting dietary corn grain with prickly pear cactus (PC) flour. Three total mixed PC rations were prepared (/kg DM): 0 g (Control), 75 g (PC75), and 150 g (PC150). Besides, E. coli was supplemented at four different levels (dose): 0, 10, 20, and 40 mg/g DM of substrates. The in vitro rumen GP, CH4, and CO2 were estimated to be affected due to various doses of E. coli up to 72 h of incubation. Asymptotic GP, fractional rate of GP, and lag time were influenced significantly (P < .05) in the presence of ration. However, E. coli doses showed minor impact on the rate of GP as well as lag time. The asymptotic CH4 production was decreased linearly (P = .005) at the ration PC150. E. coli doses reduced the asymptotic CH4 production at 10 and 20 mg/g DM. The asymptotic CO2 production was linearly (P < .001) decreased by different levels of PC. The cubic (P = .023) effect of E. coli doses as well as significant (P = .002) ration × E. coli doses impact were reported on asymptotic CO2 production. The fractional rate of GP was quadratically (P < .05) influenced by PC and E. coli doses. The rations, dose, and rations × E. coli dose interaction had no influence (P > .05) on lag time. In a nutshell, PC flour inclusion in diet has the potentiality to replace the existing conventional feedstuffs for ruminant. Most importantly, revealing the first report, PC flours along with E. coli supplementation at varied doses mitigated the ruminal biogases production. This was as consequence to the antimicrobial impacts of E. coli against ruminal microflora, and that could certainly be a promising approach in order to improve ruminant's diet constituents.

Effect of increasing levels of seven tree species extracts added to a high concentrate diet on in vitro rumen gas output.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of increasing levels of extracts of Byrsonima crassifolia, Celtis pallida, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Fraxinus excelsior, Ficus trigonata, Phoradendrom brevifolium and Prunus domestica on in vitro gas production (GP) and ruminal fermentation of a high concentrate diet. Plant extracts were prepared at 1 g dry matter (DM)/8 mL of solvent mixture (methanol : ethanol : water, 1:1:8) and added at levels of 0, 0.6, 1.2 and 1.8 mL/g DM of a high concentrate diet. In vitro GP was recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation. Increasing addition of extracts linearly increased (P < 0.001), the GP24 , GP48 and GP72 (mL/g DM), and linearly decreased (P < 0.001), the discrete GP lag time. Moreover, increasing extract doses linearly increased (P < 0.001) the asymptotic GP and decreased (P < 0.001) the rate of GP. GP6 was not impacted by treatments and GP12 increased linearly (P = 0.01) with increasing addition of extracts. Rumen pH declined linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing doses of extracts added. As no interactions (P > 0.05) occurred between the extracts and doses, it could be conclude that all extracts positively modified rumen fermentation at doses of 1.2 to 1.8 mL extract/g diet DM.

Feed intake, nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation activities in sheep-fed peanut hulls treated with Trichoderma viride or urea.

This study aimed to assess impacts of fungal treatment on the nutritional value of peanut hulls (PH) or urea at the rate of 5 kg/100 g of PH. Fermented sugar beet pulp inoculated with Trichoderma viride was supplemented to PH at rates of 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0 g/100 g air dry of PH and mixed well before aerobic incubation for 21 days. Organic matter (OM) content of PH declined with increased levels of fermented sugar beet pulp inoculums, while crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), and ash increased. Fiber contents were decreased with both treatments of fermented sugar beet pulp and urea. Total N of PH increased with urea treatment, which reduced the true protein N to total protein N ratio. In sacco degradabilities of dry matter (DM), OM, and CP with urea treatment increased compared with fungal treatment. The DM intake of peanut hulls treated with fungus (PHF) was higher (P < 0.05) than with peanut hulls treated with urea (PHU). Digestibility of OM, CP, neutral detergent fiber, and non-fiber carbohydrate by native breed Ossimi sheep with PH were higher (P < 0.05) than with PH or urea treated PH. The intakes, losses, and balance of N increased (P < 0.01) with PHF versus PH feeding. Feeding PHF increased (P < 0.01) ruminal concentrations of NH3-N, acetic acid, butyric acid, and the acetic to propionic acid ratio. Bacterial and protozoal counts increased (P < 0.05) with feeding PHF or PHU versus PH. Overall, this fungal treatment of peanut hulls created a higher nutritive value feed for ruminants.

Influence of S. babylonica extract on feed intake, growth performance and diet in vitro gas production profile in young lambs.

An experiment was completed to determine the effect of Salix babylonica (SB) extract supplementation to the diet of growing lambs. Eighteen Katahdin × Pelibuey male lambs (14 ± 2 kg live body weight) were divided randomly in individual cages into three groups and fed three diets varying in SB: a control group was fed on total mixed ration (TMR) without SB (SB0), an SB25 group was fed on TMR plus SB extract at 25 mL/lamb/day, and an SB50 group was fed on TMR plus SB extract at 50 mL/lamb/day on dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency, and in vitro gas production (GP) in lambs fed on TMR. In vitro GP of the TMR fed to lambs was recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h of incubation with 0, 0.6, 1.2, and 1.8 mL extract per gram of DM. Addition of SB extract at low and high doses improved the DMI of lambs by 59.9 and 33.2 %, respectively. Relative to the control, low and high extract doses achieved greater lamb ADG during the experimental period. The asymptotic GP increased (P < 0.05) with increasing dose of SB extract without affecting the rate of GP or the initial delay before GP begins. Linear increases for in vitro GP with advancing time with different SB extract doses were observed. It is suggested that the use of S. babylonica extract with the rate of 25 mL/lamb/day is beneficial to young lamb's performance growth and thus can be safely used as a feed additive in diets without any negative effects on animal health.