M. Ivan

Dietary manipulation to increase conjugated linoleic acids and other desirable fatty acids in beef: A review

The diet is the source of many essential fatty acids such as linoleic and linolenic acids for all mammals. These fatty acids either, as altered isomers or as other elongated products, have been found to provide unique advantages to human health. Currently two conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) isomers (cis-9, trans-11 C18:2; trans-10, cis-12 C18:2) and two elongated products of linolenic acid [eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5 n-3), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 n-3)] have been recognized for their roles in maintaining human health. Consumers can obtain these functional fatty acids from beef if the feeding management of beef cattle can be altered to include precursor fatty acids. Diet, breed, and gender are important factors that affect total fat content and/or the fatty acid profile of beef with regard to CLA, EPA, and DHA. Diet provides the precursor fatty acids that are altered and deposited, and breed dictates, the amount of fat that is deposited. These fatty acids can be increased in beef by increasi...

EFFECTS OF DIETARY SUNFLOWER SEEDS ON RUMEN PROTOZOA AND GROWTH OF LAMBS

Linoleic acid-rich sunflower-seed supplements (SSS) were used in two experiments (experiment 1, high-concentrate diets; experiment 2, high-forage diets) to study effects on rumen protozoa and the growth of lambs. Both experiments consisted of four treatments, two with a low-protein diet (120 g/kg) and two with a high-protein diet (160 g/kg). For both diets, one treatment was without (control) and one with the SSS (140 g/kg dietary DM). The lambs were fed ad libitum for 70 and 140 d in experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Thereafter, the digestibility of organic matter (OM), acid-detergent fibre and neutral-detergent fibre were determined for each diet with four lambs, and then all lambs were slaughtered and rumen fluid samples were collected and analysed. The results showed substantial decreases (P < 0.001) or total elimination of protozoa in the rumen fluid of the SSS-receiving lambs. In the first experiment the SSS also decreased (P < 0.05) feed intake, but an increase in average daily gain (P < 0.06) resulted in an improved (P < 0.05) feed:gain ratio. Also, the SSS increased (P < 0.05) the digestibility of fibre. In the second experiment the SSS decreased (P < 0.05) the OM digestibility, feed intake and growth of lambs. It was concluded that the use of sunflower-seed supplementation in high-concentrate diets of ruminants reduces rumen fauna, resulting in savings on dietary protein supplements and an increased digestion of feed.

Effect of dietary Enterolobium cyclocarpum on microbial protein flow and nutrient digestibility in sheep maintained fauna-free, with total mixed fauna or with Entodinium caudatum monofauna

Three groups of five wethers with ruminal and duodenal cannulas and maintained as either fauna-free (FF) or inoculated with total mixed fauna (TF) or Entodinium caudatum as a single-species monofauna (EN) were used in an experiment with two 28 d periods. In the first period, the sheep were fed a control barley-based diet (40:60 concentrate to silage DM) and in the second period the diet was supplemented with 187 g DM of Enterolobium cyclocarpum for the last 12 d of the period. The diets of period 1 and 2 were isonitrogenous. There was no effect of fauna on apparent ruminal and total tract organic matter and fibre digestion, but bacterial and microbial N flow and efficiency were improved in FF sheep compared to TF sheep. In period 2, protozoal numbers were reduced between 31 and 88 % 2 h after feeding E. cyclocarpum for the third to twelfth day of supplementation and by an average of 25 % in samples collected over the 24 h feeding cycle. Supplementation of the diet with E. cyclocarpum and the consequent protozoal reduction in TF and EN sheep improved the flow of non-ammonia N and bacterial N to the small intestine and the efficiency of microbial synthesis. However, E. cyclocarpum reduced ruminal organic matter digestion, especially in faunated sheep, and total tract organic matter, N and fibre digestion. Thus, a reduction in the protozoal cell numbers of 25 % was sufficient to achieve the beneficial effects of reduced fauna on the bacterial protein supply, but diet digestibility was reduced.

Effects of sunflower seed supplementation and different dietary protein concentrations on the ciliate protozoa population dynamics in the rumen of sheep

The effects of feeding a linoleic acid-rich sunflower seed supplement and different levels of dietary protein on protozoal numbers and fermentation parameters in rumen fluid were determined in an 84-d experiment with rumen-cannulated sheep. The experiment comprised four treatments, two with low crude protein diets [12% of dietary dry matter (DM)] and two with high protein diets (16% of DM). On both low and high protein diets, one treatment was without (Control) and one with the sunflower seed (high linoleic acid variety 6150) supplement (14% of dietary DM). The four diets used were based on corn silage and corn grain, and soybean meal was used to achieve the desired concentration of dietary protein. The sheep were fully fed each morning and rumen fluid samples were taken 2 h later on various days of the experiment (daily during the first 14 d for enumeration of protozoa). In addition, rumen fluid was sampled at different hours after feeding on day 43 of the experiment. Results showed a protozoa-decreasing...

Rumen fermentation and microbial population in lactating dairy cows receiving diets containing oilseeds rich in C-18 fatty acids

Sixteen Holstein rumen-cannulated primiparous milking dairy cows were fed a control diet (CN) based on maize silage and soyabean meal during a 4-week period before the start of a 21-d experiment with oilseeds containing high concentration of linoleic acid (Linola™) or linolenic acid (NuLin™). Thereafter, four cows received ad libitum one of each of four dietary treatments comprising of CN, Linola (LN), NuLin (NL) and LN/NL (50/50 % combination). Each LN, NL and LN/NL treatment contained 6 % oil of DM. Rumen digesta samples were collected on days 6, 11, 16 and 21 and milk samples on days 13, 15 and 17. There were no effects (P>0.05) of the oilseeds on pH and concentrations of NH3-N and total volatile fatty acids, while the acetate:propionate ratio was decreased (P< 0.05). The oilseeds also decreased (P< 0.05) protozoa and increased (P< 0.1) total cellulolytic bacteria in rumen fluid, especially when containing high dietary linoleic acid (P< 0.05). The milk protein concentration was increased (P< 0.1) by the dietary linoleic acid, which produced most beneficial results. It was concluded that supplements of linoleic acid in diets of ruminants might contribute to better digestion of dietary fibre and increased quality of milk.

Effects of dietary sunflower seeds on lactation performance and conjugated linoleic acid content of milk

The conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) concentration in milk and the lactation performance of cows fed either a control (CON) or a sunflower seed [SS; 7% of dietary dry matter (DM)] containing diet were compared in a 12-wk lactation trial, starting from week 3 after calving, with 17 multiparous and 8 primiparous cows. The CON and SS diets were isonitrogenous and provided 4 and 6% crude fat in the total mixed rations and were fed to 13 and 12 cows, respectively. Daily DM intake (DMI ), milk production and weekly body weights were recorded. Milk samples collected weekly at four consecutive milkings were individually analyzed for fat, protein and lactose content, and fatty acid composition. The DMI and milk production of the cows fed t he CON and SS diets were 20.5 ± 0.80 and 20.2 ± 0.80 kg d-1 (P > 0.05) and 38.2 ± 1.71 and 38.2 ± 1.71 kg d-1 (P > 0.05), respectively. No differences due to diet were observed for cow body weight, body condition score, or for content and yield of milk fat, protein and lactose. Th...

Comparison of duodenal flow and digestibility in fauna-free sheep inoculated with Holotrich protozoa, Entodinium monofauna or total mixed protozoa population.

The present results are the last part of a series of experiments conducted in this laboratory on metabolism of major individual rumen ciliate protozoa species and their combinations in sheep. These species were inoculated into the rumen of fauna-free (FF) sheep to study digestibility of dietary fibre and duodenal flow of N. Sixteen rumen- and duodenum-cannulated FF sheep were divided into four equal groups and used in the present experiment. One group remained FF, while the other three were each inoculated intraruminally with the Holotrich protozoa sp. (HT), Entodinium sp. (EN) or total mixed fauna (TF). In comparison with the FF group, the HT did not affect (P>0.05) the duodenal flow of non-NH3-N and bacterial-N, while the flow was decreased (P < 0.05) by both the EN and TF populations. The digestibility of fibre was increased (P < 0.05) by both the EN and TF populations, but the results for the HT group were mostly similar to those for the FF sheep. The fibre digestibility in the stomach for TF was intermediate between that for EN and FF. It was concluded that except when fed high-carbohydrate diets, the presence in the rumen of the HT protozoa are of no significant value or major detriment to ruminant production.

Duodenal flow and digestibility in fauna-free sheep and in sheep monofaunated with Entodinium caudatum or Polyplastron multivesiculatum

Three groups of five rumen and duodenum cannulated fauna-free sheep were used in a 28 d experiment. One group remained fauna-free, whereas the second (EN) and third (PP) groups, respectively, were inoculated intraruminally with the protozoan species Entodinium caudatum and Polyplastron multivesiculatum. Rumen fluid, duodenal digesta and faecal samples were collected during the last 12 d. The flow of digesta to the duodenum was determined using Yb and Co as dual-phase markers. (15)Nitrogen and phosphatidylcholine were used as markers to calculate the duodenal flow of bacterial and protozoal N, respectively. Results showed an increase (P < 0.1) in the rumen concentration of NH3-N and total volatile fatty acids, and a decrease (P < 0.05) in the duodenal flow of non-NH3-N and bacterial N in sheep with EN and PP monofaunas, compared with fauna-free sheep. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in these variables between the two monofauna groups. Protozoal N accounted for 8 % of the duodenal non-NH3-N flow in the EN-monofaunated sheep, whereas no such flow was detected in the PP-monofaunated sheep. Apparent rumen digestibility of organic matter, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre were similar (P > 0.05) in the monofaunated groups of sheep, but rumen acid detergent fibre digestibility was higher (P < 0.05) in the monofaunated than in the fauna-free groups. Experimental results suggested that, unlike EN, the PP monofauna might not contribute to the duodenal flow of microbial protein, whereas both monofaunas showed a virtually equal degree of predation on rumen bacteria.

Effects of sunflower oil in barley grain-based finishing diets on growth and carcass quality of feedlot steers

High linoleic acid sunflower oil (HLSO) was included at 0, 3, 6, or 9% [dry matter (DM) basis] in barley-based finishing diets offered to 60 steers fed individually (n = 15 per dietary treatment). Trends toward improved average daily gain (ADG) (by 13% with 6% HLSO; quadratic, P = 0.08) and feed efficiency (by 7%, linear, P = 0.09) were observed. Steers tolerated 9% HLSO with no adverse effect on performance. Key words: Carcass characteristics, growth performance, linoleic acid, sunflower oil