In vitro rumen fermentation and digestibility of buffaloes as influenced by grape pomace powder and urea treated rice straw supplementation

This study aimed to investigate the effect of grape pomace powder levels and roughage sources on gas kinetics, digestibility and fermentation of swamp buffaloes by using in vitro techniques. The experimental design was a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design. Factor A was two sources of roughage (untreated rice straw, RS, and 3% urea treated rice straw, UTRS) and factor B was four levels of grape pomace powder (GPP) supplementation (0, 2, 4, 6% of substrate) on a dry matter basis. Results revealed that GPP supplementation at 2, 4 and 6% of substrate influenced gas kinetics. Cumulative gas production tended to be lower in the supplemented group. In vitro true digestibility was higher in the GPP supplementation at 2% with UTRS while microbial mass was higher in the supplemented groups. Supplementation of GPP significantly increased the total volatile fatty acids, especially propionate. Calculated methane production was subsequently decreased in the supplemented groups. Bacterial population was higher while protozoal population was lower by GPP supplementation. It could be concluded that supplementation of GPP at 2% of the substrate with UTRS improved in vitro true digestibility, rumen fermentation end‐products as well as reducing methane production.     

On-farm feeding interventions to increase milk production in lactating dairy cows

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of tropical legume (Phaseolus calcaratus) mixed with ruzi grass feeding on the performance of...     

The relationship between chilling injury and membrane damage in lemon basil (Ocimum × citriodourum) leaves

Leaves of lemon basil (Ocimum × citriodourum) were stored in sealed polyethylene bags at 4 °C and 12 °C. At 4 °C, leaf browning, the visible symptom of chilling injury, occurred earlier and was more severe in mature leaves than in young leaves. No positive correlation was found, when comparing young and mature leaves stored at 4 °C, between browning and either substrate levels (free phenolics) or the activities of peroxidase or catechol oxidase, which might catalyse these reactions. The levels of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids differed only slightly and were not correlated with chilling injury. Compared to young leaves, mature ones showed higher lipoxygenase activity throughout the period of low temperature storage. This might indicate more degradation of membrane unsaturated fatty acids. In addition, mature leaves exhibited lower catalase activity than young ones. This suggests lower protection against membrane oxidation in mature leaves. The data thus suggest a correlation between lipoxygenase activity, antioxidant defense, and chilling injury.     

Spatial and temporal variability of sedimentary nutrients in relation to regional development in the urbanizing lower Chao Phraya watersheds of Thailand

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Excess nutrients pose profound aquatic environmental impacts besides well-known essential elements for cropping. The enrichment of excess nutrients in riverine...     

Fuscacarpans A–C,new pterocarpans from the stems of Erythrina fusca

Chemical investigation of the stems of Erythrina fusca Lour. led to the isolation of three new pterocarpans, named fuscacarpans A–C (1−3), together with fourteen known compounds, sandwicensin (4), erythribyssin A (5), erythrabissin I (6), demethylmedicarpin (7), eryvarin D (8), erypoegin I (9), hydroxycristacarpone (10), orientanol A (11), scandenone (12), genistein (13), liquiritigenin (14), isoliquiritigenin (15), vestitone (16) and 3,7,4′-trihydroxyflavone (17). Structures 1−3 were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. The isolates were evaluated for antibacterial, antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activities.     

Myosin and actin denaturation in frozen stored kuruma prawn Marsupenaeus japonicus myofibrils

Myosin and actin denaturation in kuruma prawn myofibrils stored frozen (0.1 M NaCl, pH 7.5) at ?20 °C was investigated. The inactivation profile of Ca²⁺-ATPase in the myofibrils was identical to that for myosin, indicating that myosin in myofibrils was not protected by actin. The presence of myosin detached from actin in the soluble fraction was proven by ammonium sulfate fractionation in the absence and presence of Mg-ATP. Actin denaturation in myofibrils was further confirmed by its increased susceptibility to chymotryptic degradation. In the frozen myofibrils, actin denatured more rapidly quicker than myosin: actin had completely denatured by storage day 1, followed by a gradual denaturation of myosin. Both myosin and actin in the frozen stored myofibrils retained their high salt-solubility, which decreased slowly during the frozen storage period. The presence of aggregated inactivated myosin in the salt-soluble fraction was proven by precipitation at 40 % saturation of ammonium sulfate in the presence of Mg-ATP, leaving active monomeric myosin in the soluble fraction. Almost no actin denaturation was observed with heated myofibrils.     

Effect of high pressure and heat treatments on black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon Fabricius) muscle protein

International Aquatic Research - Osmo- and ionoregulatory abilities were examined in the intertidal grapsid crab, Gaetice depressus, transferred from normal seawater (30 ppt) to low (10 ppt) or...