In silico Structural, Functional and Phylogenetic Analyses of cellulase from Ruminococcus albus.

Background: Cellulose is the primary component of the plant cell wall and an important source of energy for the ruminant and microbial protein synthesis in the rumen. Cell wall content is digested by anaerobic fermentation activity mainly of bacteria belonging to species Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminicoccus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens. Bacteria belonging to the species Ruminococcus albus contain cellulosomes that enable it to adhere to and digest cellulose, and its genome encodes cellulases and hemicellulases.

Effect of ileal infusion of short-chain fatty acids on pancreatic prandial secretion and gastrointestinal hormones in pigs.

Objectives: Nutrients passing the ileum induce mechanisms regulating pancreatic secretion, but the effect of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) present in the ileum because of either intestinal fermentation or due to the cecoileal reflux is still unclear. This study investigated the effect of ileal SCFAs on pancreatic secretion and plasma levels of peptide YY, cholecystokinin, motilin, and neurotensin.

Methods: The pigs were fitted with pancreatic duct, ileal, and jugular vein catheters, and a duodenal T-shaped cannula.

Evaluation of the effects of dietary particle fractions on fermentation profile and concentration of microbiota in the rumen of dairy cows fed grass silage-based diets.

The study evaluated the effects of three different theoretical particle lengths (TPL) of grass silage on the distribution of particle fractions of the diet and the resulting effects on fermentation profile and concentrations of protozoa and mixed bacterial mass in the rumen of three lactating Holstein cows fed total mixed rations (45% grass silage, 5% grass hay and 50% concentrate) ad libitum. Decreasing TPL of grass silage (long, medium, short) reduced particles retained on the 19-mm sieve of the Penn State Particle Separator, while particle fractions from 8 mm to 19 mm and smaller than 8 mm were increased. Different TPL did not affect pH and the concentration of volatile fatty acids in the rumen.

Effects of betaine and condensed molasses solubles on nitrogen balance and nutrient digestibility in piglets fed diets deficient in methionine and low in compatible osmolytes.

A balance experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of betaine monohydrate (BET) or betaine derived from condensed molasses solubles (CMS) as a substitute for methionine and choline on nitrogen (N) balance and total tract nutrient digestibility in weaned piglets. The experiment included four treatments with 32 barrows with an average initial body weight (BW) of 13.5 kg.

Effects of fibre concentration of diets consisting of hay and slowly degradable concentrate on ruminal fermentation and digesta particle size in mid-lactation dairy cows.

Four multiparous ruminally cannulated Holstein cows (mean bodyweight [BW] 615 kg) in mid-lactation (103 days in milk and 32 kg milk x d(-1) at start of the experiment) were used in an one-factorial experiment to evaluate the effects of fibre level (19, 24, 28, 32 and 39% physically effective NDF [peNDF] in dry matter [DM]) in diets consisting of hay and slowly degradable concentrate on rumen fermentation patterns and digesta particle size, under a constant intake level (146 g DM x kg(-0.75). The different fibre concentrations in the diet were achieved by adjusting the hay to concentrate ratio.

Effects of physically effective fibre concentration of diets consisting of hay and slowly degradable concentrate on chewing activity in mid lactation dairy cows under constant intake level.

Four ruminally cannulated Holstein cows (BW 615 kg) in mid lactation were used to evaluate the effects of fibre level (39, 32, 28, 24 and 19% physically effective NDF [peNDF] in DM) in diets consisting of hay and slowly degradable concentrate on chewing activity, under a constant intake level (18 kg DM x d(-1)). The different dietary fibre concentrations were achieved by adjusting the hay to concentrate ratio. The above-mentioned levels of peNDF corresponded to 25, 40, 50, 60 and 70% concentrate respectively.

Serum IgA-promoting effects induced by feed loads containing isolated deoxynivalenol (DON) in growing piglets.

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a Fusarium toxin belonging to the trichothecene group, has been reported to produce a variety of adverse health effects in farm animals, such as inhibition of protein synthesis, reduction of feed intake, and alteration of the immune system. In pigs, the effects of increasing levels of chemically pure DON in a semisynthetic diet on performance, health, and serum immunglobulin A (IgA) levels were examined. A diet, without grain components and trichothecene free (8 main trichothecenes), with doses of 0, 300, 600, and 1200 microg pure DON/kg was fed to 34 female pigs for a period of 8 wk after weaning under standardized conditions.