Search

In vitro studies were undertaken aiming to study the methane (CH4) mitigation potential of biowaste (BW) of Padina gymnospora at the graded inclusion of 0% (C), 2% (A2), 5% (A5), and 10% (A10) of the diet composed of straw and concentrate in 40:60 ratio. The chemical composition analysis revealed that the BW contained higher crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and ether extract (EE) than the PF (fresh seaweed, P. gymnospora). The concentration of cinnamic acid, sinapic acid, kaempferol, fisetin p-coumaric acid, ellagic acid, and luteolin in BW was 1.5-6-folds less than the PF. Inclusion of BW decreased (P < 0.0001) CH4 production by 34%, 38%, and 45% in A2, A5, and A10 treatments, respectively. A decrease (P < 0.0001) of 7.5%-8% in dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) digestibility was also recorded with the BW supplementation. The BW inclusion also decreased the numbers of total (P = 0.007), Entodinomorphs (P = 0.011), and Holotrichs (P = 0.004) protozoa. Metagenome data revealed the dominance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Fibrobacter microbial phyla. At the phylum level, Euryarchaeota dominated the archaeal community, whereas Methanobrevibacter was most abundant at the genus level. It can be concluded that the inclusion of BWin straw and concentrate based diet by affecting rumen fermentation, protozoal numbers, and compositional shift in the archaeal community significantly decreased CH4 production. Utilization of biowaste of P. gymnospora as a CH4 mitigating agent will ensure its efficient utilization rather than dumping, which shall cause environmental pollution and health hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was undertaken to compare the rumen microbial community composition, methane yield, rumen fermentation, and CAZyme profiles between cattle and buffaloes. The primary aim of this study was to ascertain the impact of the host species on the above when diet and environmental factors are fixed. A total of 43 phyla, 200 orders, 458 families, and 1722 microbial genera were identified in the study. Bacteroidetes was the most prominent bacterial phylum and constituted >1/3rd of the ruminal microbiota; however, their abundances were comparable between cattle and buffaloes. Firmicutes were the second most abundant bacteria, found to be negatively correlated with the Bacteroidetes. The abundances of Firmicutes as well as the F/B ratio were not different between the two host species. In this study, archaea affiliated with the nine phyla were identified, with Euryarchaeota being the most prominent. Like bacterial phyla, the abundances of Euryarchaeota methanogens were also similar between the cattle and buffaloes. At the order level, Methanobacteriales dominated the archaea. Methanogens from the Methanosarcinales, Methanococcales, Methanomicrobiales, and Methanomassiliicoccales groups were also identified, but at a lower frequency. Methanobrevibacter was the most prevalent genus of methanogens, accounting for approximately three percent of the rumen metagenome. However, their distribution was not different between the two host species. CAZymes affiliated with five classes, namely CBM, CE, GH, GT, and PL, were identified in the metagenome, where the GH class was the most abundant and constituted ~70% of the total CAZymes. The protozoal numbers, including Entodiniomorphs and Holotrichs, were also comparable between the cattle and buffaloes. Results from the study did not reveal any significant difference in feed intake, nutrient digestibility, and rumen fermentation between cattle and buffaloes fed on the same diet. As methane yield due to the similar diet composition, feed ingredients, rumen fermentation, and microbiota composition did not vary, these results indicate that the microbiota community structure and methane emissions are under the direct influence of the diet and environment, and the host species may play only a minor role until the productivity does not vary. More studies are warranted to investigate the effect of different diets and environments on microbiota composition and methane yield. Further, the impact of variable productivity on both the cattle and buffaloes when the diet and environmental factors are fixed needs to be ascertained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the effect of the insulin-like grow factor 1 (IGF-1) treatment during in vitro maturation on the gene expression and developmental ability of ovine oocytes. Ovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were matured in vitro without (control) or with the supplementation of IGF-1 (100 ng/ml) and then subjected to in vitro fertilization and culture. The rate of oocyte maturation and embryo development was recorded and expression of the selected genes (involved in the PI3K/Akt and apoptosis signaling) was assessed in the matured oocytes. The IGF-1 treatment significantly (p <.05) improved the oocyte maturation rate (%) as compared to the control (81.5 ± 2.40 vs. 73.6 ± 0.94). Similarly, as compared to the control, the IGF-1 treatment significantly (p <.05) improved the rate (%) of cleavage (54.7 ± 1.58 vs. 67.2 ± 3.65) and the formation of 4–8 cell embryos (30.7 ± 2.89 vs. 44.1 ± 4.01) and morula (20.7 ± 2.08 vs. 32.8 ± 2.78). The IGF-1 treatment significantly (p <.05) upregulated the expression of IGF1R, PI3KR1, AKT1 and BCL2 and downregulated the expression of GSK3β, FOXO3 and CASP9 in the matured oocytes. In conclusion, the IGF-1 treatment significantly improved the developmental competence of ovine oocytes through the regulation of the PI3K/Akt and apoptosis signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to assess the effect of different seasons (summer, monsoon and winter) on the quality, preservability and fertilizing ability of spermatozoa in Bannur rams. The level of heat stress was significantly greater during the summer than monsoon or winter seasons. Spermatozoa concentration (×106/ml) in semen was found significantly (P < 0.05) lesser during the summer (2446 ± 80) as compared to monsoon (2759 ± 56) or winter (2769 ± 56). The progressive motility (%) of spermatozoa at the 72 h post-preservation was significantly (P < 0.01) lesser during the summer (47.5 ± 2.5) than monsoon (62.5 ± 2.5) and winter (57.5 ± 2.5). Significantly (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) lesser liveability and acrosomal integrity, but greater total morphological abnormalities of spermatozoa were recorded at all the preservation time points during the summer as compared to monsoon or winter. The cleavage rate (%) was found significantly (P < 0.01) greater during the monsoon (56.6 ± 2.24) as compared to summer (41.7 ± 1.26) and winter (41.4 ± 0.99). The results indicate a definite seasonal pattern in the quality, preservability and fertilizing ability of spermatozoa in Bannur rams, which were found superior during the monsoon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a study which evaluated quality protein maize (QPM), nithyasree hybrid (NH) and commercial maize based diets on the performance of lambs. The treatment diets used in the study included ragi straw as basal feed and a concentrate mixture. Researchers concluded that the feeding and digestion trials did not reaffirm the assumption that QPM and NH based diets would result in a superior performance.

The article highlights a study which examined how the quality of maize silage is affected by different microbial inoculums. Some of microbes used in the study include Sachharomyces cerivisae, Enterococus fecalis and Lactobacillus plantarum. Results of the study demonstrated that the inoculum helped in changing quickly the fermentation process. The inoculum also helped in lowering pH faster and in maintaining silage quality.

The article presents research which examined the influence of prebiotic on nutrient utilization of total mixed ration (TMR). The researchers have collected rumen liquor two hours after providing feed and water from the adult fistulated cattle. They found that inherently ragi straw has high neutral detergent fiber and low protein content just like other residues of agricultural crop.

The article presents a study that evaluates the nutritional composition of Moringa leaves and its effects on rumen metabolic profile. The study is undertaken through collecting Moringa leaves and the use of chemical analysis to determine various rumen metabolites such as total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, and volatile fatty acids. The results of the study reveal that Moringa leaves contain 20.36% crude protein, 6.7% ether extract and 19.45% neutral detergent fiber.

The article discusses the results of a study on the amino acids composition of buffalo rumen anaerobic fungi. Phase contrast microscope was used for the morphological study of zoospore and sporangia. The anaerobic fungus found in the study contains 11.9% arginine and 11.87% serine. Other important amino acids recorded in the study include lysine, alanine and proline.