Background: Ruminants produce large quantities of methane in their rumen as a by-product of microbial digestion of feed. Antibiotics are added to ruminant feed to reduce wasteful production of methane; however, this practice has some downsides. A search for safer and natural feed additives with anti-methanogenic properties is under way. The objective of this research was to examine selected feed additives, plant essential oils and plant extracts for their anti-methanogenic potential in the rumen using an in vitro batch fermentation system.
Results: A significant reduction (P < 0.05) in methane production was observed with nine feed additives (up to 40% reduction), all eight essential oils (up to 75% reduction) and two plant extracts (14% reduction) when compared to their respective controls. Amongst these, only an algal meal high in docosahexaenoic acid, preparations of Nannochloropsis oculata, calcareous marine algae, yeast metabolites and two tannins did not inhibit microbial gas and volatile acid production.
Conclusions: The current study identified some potent dietary ingredients or plant compounds that can assist in developing novel feed additives for methane mitigation from the rumen.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.6396 | DOI Listing |
Toxics
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100081, China.
Hypochlorous acid has been attempted as an additive to animal drinking water in practical animal farming processes for water microbial quality control. Despite its potential, there is still a knowledge gap concerning the effects of hypochlorous acid on both poultry growth performance and gut microbial load. To address this gap, an animal study was conducted using flow cytometry to quantify the age-related microbial load in broiler manure and gut contents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVet Sci
January 2025
Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, University Campus, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil.
This study evaluated the effects of two types of plastic flooring-one with and one without nanotechnological antimicrobial additives-used as complete or partial replacements for wood shavings on broiler chicken performance, yield, meat quality, and litter microbiology over 42 days. A total of 1500 Ross 408 male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five treatment groups: wood shavings (WS), plastic flooring (PF), a 50/50 mix of plastic flooring and wood shavings (PF + WS), plastic flooring with antimicrobial additives (PFA), and a 50/50 mix of antimicrobial plastic flooring and wood shavings (PFA + WS). This study evaluated organ biometrics (liver, heart, spleen, and gizzard), the severity of lesions, microbiological profiles, performance indices, and meat quality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVet Sci
January 2025
Graduate Program in Animal Science and Health, Federal University of Campina Grande, Patos 58708110, Brazil.
The use of escape protein, which is absorbed in the small intestine, can improve the production of ruminant animals because it meets their protein requirements better. This study hypothesized that wax lipid matrices are effective encapsulants for escape lysine in ruminants and tested tannin extract as an adjuvant. Forty intact male Santa Ines × Dorper sheep (~4 months old, BW 23 ± 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMar Drugs
January 2025
The Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic Resource and Breeding Innovation, College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) is receiving increasing attention as a feed additive in animal production. COS has a variety of biological functions, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Mastitis is a major disease in dairy cows that has a significant impact on animal welfare and production.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTrop Anim Health Prod
January 2025
Department of Animal Science, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790, Maringá, Paraná, 87020-900, Brazil.
This study was realized to evaluate the influence of monensin, virginiamycin,trace minerals and yeast combination on animal performance, feed efficiency, in situ digestibility, feeding behavior, and carcass and meat characteristics from bulls finished in feedlot fed high-grain diet. A total of 36 (European vs. Nellore) bulls at 24 ± 3.
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