Publications by authors named "Hisao Itabashi"

Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to evaluate the impact of cacao bean husk as bedding for dairy cows, focusing on behavior, productivity, udder health, and ammonia levels in a barn setting.
  • Four bedding types (no bedding, cacao bean husk, sawdust, and chopped wheat straw) were tested on nine lactating Holstein cows over a week, measuring lying time, milk yield, and other health indicators.
  • Results showed that cacao bean husk increased lying time and milk yield, reduced bacteria on teat ends, lowered ammonia levels compared to other bedding materials, and resulted in lower cortisol levels in cows.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The effects of corn dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) feeding on rumen fermentation and milk production in cows were evaluated using diets high in neutral detergent fiber (NDF, 45.9-46.6%).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study was to investigate the time course of changes to the antioxidant activity of milk from cows fed a trehalose-supplemented diet, and to determine possible underlying mechanisms for observed changes. Six Holstein cows were used, and subjected to two experimental feeding periods consisting of a 1% trehalose-supplemented diet for 10 days, followed by a basal diet only (no trehalose) for 10 days. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities in milk were gradually increased during the trehalose supplementation period and were highest at the end of the second period.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The influence of rumen protozoa on the composition of rumen methanogens was studied by using seven growing Holstein cattle divided into two groups: four faunated and three unfaunated. 16S ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) and methyl coenzyme-M reductase (MCR) α subunit (mcrA) gene clonal libraries were constructed. The results of each analysis showed that Methanobacteriales was dominant in the rumen of both groups.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Eight cows were used to evaluate the effects of supplementation of soy sauce oil (SO) or Ca salts of fatty acids (FA) on rumen fermentation and milk production. The control diet (CO) consisted mainly of hay, corn silage and a concentrate. In the experimental diets, 400 g/day per cow of SO or FA (soybean oil and rapeseed oil) was supplemented to the CO diet.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives of this study were to compare fatty acid (FA) composition of ruminal bacterial (B) and protozoal (P) cells, and to investigate effect of protozoa on FA profile in the rumen of cattle. Three cows were used to prepare ruminal B and P cells. Four faunated and three defaunated cattle (half-siblings) were used to study effect of protozoa on ruminal FA profile.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A real-time PCR approach was used in this study to clarify the populations of major bacterial species in the rumens of faunated and unfaunated cattle. The sensitivity of this novel real-time PCR assay was evaluated by using 10(1) to 10(8) plasmid copies of target bacteria. The numbers of plasmid copies of Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Prevotella ruminicola, and the CUR-E cluster were higher in the unfaunated than in the faunated rumens.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The phylogenetic diversity of the fecal bacterial community in Holstein cattle was determined by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence analysis. The sequences were affiliated with the following phyla: Firmicutes (81.3%), Bacteroidetes (14.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The effect of the presence of protozoa on the composition of rumen bacteria was investigated in cattle. Seven castrated Holstein cattle were divided into two groups: four faunated and three unfaunated, and 16S ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) clonal libraries were constructed. A total of 312 clones were sequenced across 1,500 bp.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An endo-beta-1,4-glucanase gene (epi3) from the rumen ciliated protozoan Epidinium caudatum was cloned from a cDNA library constructed by using the lambda ZAP II vector. The enzymatic activity of the gene product was detected by the Congo red assay, using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as substrate. The nucleotide sequence of epi3 revealed 1,253 nucleotides with an open reading frame for a protein (Epi3) of 356 amino acids (Mr -41,014).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF