Erika B. Laconi

Improving Nutritional Quality of Cocoa Pod (Theobroma cacao) through Chemical and Biological Treatments for Ruminant Feeding: In vitro and In vivo Evaluation

Cocoa pod is among the by-products of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) plantations. The aim of this study was to apply a number of treatments in order to improve nutritional quality of cocoa pod for feeding of ruminants. Cocoa pod was subjected to different treatments, i.e. C (cocoa pod without any treatment or control), CAm (cocoa pod+1.5% urea), CMo (cocoa pod+3% molasses), CRu (cocoa pod+3% rumen content) and CPh (cocoa pod+3% molasses+Phanerochaete chrysosporium inoculum). Analysis of proximate and Van Soest’s fiber fraction were performed on the respective treatments. The pods were then subjected to an in vitro digestibility evaluation by incubation in rumen fluid-buffer medium, employing a randomized complete block design (n = 3 replicates). Further, an in vivo evaluation of the pods (35% inclusion level in total mixed ration) was conducted by feeding to young Holstein steers (average body weight of 145±3.6 kg) with a 5×5 latin square design arrangement (n = 5 replicates). Each experimental period lasted for 30 d; the first 20 d was for feed adaptation, the next 3 d was for sampling of rumen liquid, and the last 7 d was for measurements of digestibility and N balance. Results revealed that lignin content was reduced significantly when cocoa pod was treated with urea, molasses, rumen content or P. chrysosporium (p<0.01) with the following order of effectiveness: CPh>CAm>CRu>CMo. Among all treatments, CAm and CPh treatments significantly improved the in vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility (p<0.05) of cocoa pod. Average daily gain of steers receiving CAm or CPh treatment was significantly higher than that of control (p<0.01) with an increase of 105% and 92%, respectively. Such higher daily gain was concomitant with higher N retention and proportion of N retention to N intake in CAm and CPh treatments than those of control (p<0.05). It can be concluded from this study that treatment with either urea or P. chrysosporium is effective in improving the nutritive value of cocoa pod.

Use of 3-nitrooxypropanol as feed additive for mitigating enteric methane emissions from ruminants: a meta-analysis

Abstract This study aimed to perform a meta-analysis on the effect of 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) on enteric methane (CH4) emissions from ruminants. A total of 12 in vivo studies from 10 articles were integrated into a database. Ruminant species included were dairy cows, beef cattle and sheep. Concentration of 3-NOP in diets varied from 0 to 280 mg/kg dry matter intake (DMI). Parameters included were CH4 emissions, rumen fermentation, microbial population, nutrient digestibility and animal performance. Meta-analysis of data was performed by using mixed model methodology in which different studies were treated as random effects whereas 3-NOP addition levels in diets of ruminants were treated as fixed effects. Results showed that increasing level of 3-NOP addition in diets of ruminants decreased enteric CH4 emissions per unit of body weight, CH4/DMI, CH4/milk produced, CH4/digested organic matter or CH4/gross energy intake (p < .05). Production of H2 was higher with increasing level of 3-NOP addition (p < .001). Addition of 3-NOP decreased total VFA concentration (p < .01), and decreased and increased proportions of C2 and C3, respectively (p < .001). Addition of 3-NOP decreased archaea population (p < .01) but it did not change total bacteria and protozoa populations. The substance had minor effect on digestibility of nutrients. Production performance of dairy cows and beef cattle was limitedly influenced by the addition of 3-NOP in the diets, and it had no negative effect on DMI of ruminants. It is concluded that 3-NOP is an effective feed additive to mitigate enteric CH4 emissions without compromising productive performance of ruminants.

Chemical composition and methane emission of some tropical forage legumes from Indonesia

The objective of the present study was to investigate chemical composition and methane emission of some tropical forage legumes from Indonesia, namely Acacia mangium, Acacia villosa, Calliandra calothyrsus, Albizzia falcataria, Leucaena leucocephala, Leucaena diversifolia, and Sesbania grandiflora. These leaves were oven dried at 60°C, ground by a hammer mill (1 mm screen size), and subjected to chemical composition analyzes and in vitro incubation. Determination of chemical composition included crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin, and tannin. Samples (200 mg DM) were incubated in vitro with 10 ml of ruminal fluid and 20 ml of buffer solution at 39 °C for 24 h in four replicates. Parameters measured were total gas production, methane emission, volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiles, ammonia concentration, microbial population (total bacteria and total protozoa), and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD). Data were subjected to analysis of variance and Tukey’s test. Results showed that a number of forages contained CP of more than 30% DM, i.e. Acacia villosa, Leucaena leucocephala, Leucaena diversifolia, and Sesbania grandiflora. Exceptionally high tannin content was found in Acacia villosa in which the value was above 20% DM. The lowest total gas production was observed in the in vitro incubation of Acacia villosa, whereas the highest gas production was observed in that of Sesbania grandiflora. This pattern was also observed for the IVOMD parameter. The lowest and the highest methane emissions were observed in the incubation of Acacia villosa and Sesbania grandiflora, respectively.The objective of the present study was to investigate chemical composition and methane emission of some tropical forage legumes from Indonesia, namely Acacia mangium, Acacia villosa, Calliandra calothyrsus, Albizzia falcataria, Leucaena leucocephala, Leucaena diversifolia, and Sesbania grandiflora. These leaves were oven dried at 60°C, ground by a hammer mill (1 mm screen size), and subjected to chemical composition analyzes and in vitro incubation. Determination of chemical composition included crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin, and tannin. Samples (200 mg DM) were incubated in vitro with 10 ml of ruminal fluid and 20 ml of buffer solution at 39 °C for 24 h in four replicates. Parameters measured were total gas production, methane emission, volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiles, ammonia concentration, microbial population (total bacteria and total protozoa), and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD). Data were subjected to analy...

Activity and viability of probiotic candidates consisting of lactic acid bacteria and yeast isolated from native poultry gastrointestinal tract

Live microbial cultures have a positive effect on animal digestibility by increasing the natural balance of microflora in the digestive tract. This study evaluated lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and ye...

Urea treatment of rice straw at elevated temperature and pressure: Effects on fiber content, rumen fermentation and digestibility

The objective of this study was to apply urea treatment of rice straw at elevated temperature and pressure (121 o C; 1.4 atm) and at short treatment period (30 or 60 min) in comparison to conventional urea treatment (4 weeks incubation). Rice straw was subjected to the following treatments: RS1: untreated rice straw (control), RS2: RS1+1% urea (no incubation), RS3:RS1+1% urea (4 weeks incubation), RS4: RS2+autoclave 30 min, RS5: RS3+autoclave 30 min, RS6: RS2+autoclave 60 min, RS7: RS3+autoclave 60 min. The samples were analyzed for fiber contents and incubated in vitro . Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and Duncan’s post-hoc test. Results showed that urea treatments (RS3-RS7) did not change NDF and ADF contents of rice straw in comparison to control. Urea treatment in autoclave for 30 min (RS4) increased rice straw IVDMD and IVOMD by 23.3% and 25.6% as compared to control, respectively (P<0.05). Extension of the incubation period to 60 min (RS6) did not improve further the IVDMD and IVOMD. Treatments did not change pH values and NH 3 concentrations. Urea treatment (RS3-RS7) increased total VFA concentration in comparison to control (P<0.05). It was concluded that urea treatment using autoclave for 30 min may replace conventional urea treatment to improve nutritional value of rice straw.