Effect of hay type on cecal and fecal microbiome and fermentation parameters in horses

The effect of hay type on the microbiome of the equine gastrointestinal tract is relatively unexplored. Our objective was to characterize the cecal and fecal microbiome of mature horses consuming alfalfa or Smooth Bromegrass (brome) hay. Six cecally cannulated horses were used in a split-plot design run as a crossover in two periods. The whole plot treatment was ad libitum access to brome or alfalfa hay fed over two 21-d acclimation periods with subplots of sampling location (cecum and rectum) and sampling hour. Each acclimation period was followed by a 24-h collection period where cecal and fecal samples were collected every 3 h for analysis of pH and volatile fatty acids (VFA). Fecal and cecal samples were pooled and sent to a commercial lab (MR DNA, Shallowater, TX) for the amplification of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene and sequenced using Illumina HiSeq. The main effects of hay on VFA, pH, and taxonomic abundances were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 with fixed effects of hay, hour, location, period, and all possible interactions and random effect of horse. Alpha and beta diversities were analyzed using the R Dame package. Horses fed alfalfa had greater fecal than cecal pH (P ≤ 0.05), whereas horses fed brome had greater cecal than fecal pH (P ≤ 0.05). Regardless of hay type, total VFA concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in the cecum than in feces, and alfalfa resulted in greater (P ≤ 0.05) VFA concentrations than brome in both sampling locations. Alpha diversity was greater (P ≤ 0.05) in fecal compared with cecal samples. Microbial community structure within each sampling location and hay type differed from one another (P ≤ 0.05). Bacteroidetes were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in the cecum compared with the rectum, regardless of hay type. Firmicutes and Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in the feces compared with cecal samples of alfalfa-fed horses. In all, fermentation parameters and bacterial abundances were impacted by hay type and sampling location in the hindgut.     

Nutritive value of sorghum silage for sheep

This study compared ensiled sorghum (ES) from two varieties (first and second cuts) with corn silage (CS) for chemical analysis, total-tract nutrient digestibility, ruminal variables and blood biochemistry metabolites in sheep. Five experimental silages representing first cut ES var. Pegah (PS1), second cut ES var. Pegah (PS2), first cut ES var. Speedfeed (SS1), second cut ES var. Speedfeed (SS2) and CS were assessed for chemical analysis, silage fermentation and anti-quality compounds. Diets consisted of lucerne hay, silage and a premix (at the ratio of 53.5:46:0.5 on a dry matter [DM] basis). Feed consumption, total-tract nutrient digestibility, microbial nitrogen supply (MNS), ruminal variables and blood biochemistry metabolites were determined in a Latin square design of five periods with five male sheep. Compared to sorghum, CS had lower (p < 0.01) concentrations of ash, water-soluble carbohydrates and crude protein, but higher starch, lignin (sa), non-structural carbohydrates and apparent nutrient digestibility. The measurements of pH, lactic acid, NH₃-N and volatile fatty acids (VFA) confirmed that all silages were well-preserved. The anti-quality compound levels in the silages were below the safe limits for ruminants. No differences were observed in feed consumption (p > 0.05) and total-tract digestibility of DM and nutrients (p > 0.05). Rumen pH, NH₃-N, VFA concentrations and acetate to propionate ratio showed no difference among treatments (p > 0.05). Sheep fed on sorghum silage showed a decrease (p < 0.01) in total protozoa, and particularly in the Entodiniae population. There were no differences in cellulolytic bacteria counts (p > 0.05) among treatments. Urinary N, MNS and blood biochemistry metabolites showed no difference among treatments (p > 0.05). Silages from both cuts of sorghum had comparable total-tract nutrient digestibility to CS, therefore, these varieties could be used as a more drought resilient silage source in the feeding of sheep.     

不同氨基酸对泰万菌素发酵影响的研究

通过单因素试验考察了泰万菌素发酵培养基中不同氨基酸种类对其发酵过程的影响,并利用正交试验对发酵培养基中3种主要氨基酸的用量配比进行了优化,结果表明发酵培养基加入0.2%亮氨酸、0.1%色氨酸、0.1%甘氨酸对泰万菌素发酵转化率影响显著,发酵摇瓶效价从14000μ/mL提高到18000μ/mL,效价提高了28.5%,完成了对泰万菌素提高发酵转化率和发酵单位的目的,并为大规模商业化生产泰万菌素奠定了良好的基础。     

奶牛非饲草来源纤维营养研究进展

本文在总结分析国内外最新研究成果的基础上,对非饲草来源纤维(NFFS)对奶牛的营养作用和生理影响及其机理进行了综述,主要从NFFS部分替代饲草对奶牛生产性能、瘤胃草垫层和瘤胃发酵的影响,以及NFFS部分替代精料对饲料效率、生产性能和亚急性瘤胃酸中毒(SARA)奶牛生理的影响等方面进行论述,旨在为NFFS饲料在奶牛饲粮中的科学合理利用提供理论参考和依据。     

青藏高原典型高寒荒漠生长季蒸散及水分消耗特征研究

为探究青藏高原典型高寒荒漠下垫面水分消耗规律,以2019年青藏高原典型高寒荒漠地区沱沱河站监测的涡动数据和微气象数据为基础,分析不同时间尺度蒸散值的变化特征和下垫面水分消耗特征,研究结果表明：小时平均蒸散发量最大值出现在14—15时,达0.46 mm·h^-1;日蒸散值最大值出现在7月7日,为8.58 mm·d^-1,最小值出现在4月2日,为0.30 mm·d^-1;整个生长季蒸散值呈先增加后减小趋势,其中7月份最大,为120.68 mm,4月份最小,为64.80 mm;生长季总蒸散发量为581.15 mm,平均每天蒸散4.01 mm。整个生长季累计降水量为235.70 mm,蒸散发量与降水量（Precipitation,Pr）的差值（The difference between ET and Precipitation,IETP）显示,2019年青藏高原典型高寒荒漠植被生长季（4—8月）水汽交换以下垫面水分消耗为主。     

Cashew nut shell liquid potentially mitigates methane emission from the feces of Thai native ruminant livestock by modifying fecal microbiota

The methane-mitigating potency of cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) was evaluated by investigating gas production from batch cultures using feces from Thai native ruminants that had been incubated for different periods. Feces was obtained from four Thai native cattle and four swamp buffaloes reared under practical feeding conditions at the Kasetsart University farm, Thailand. Fecal slurry from the same farm was also included in the analysis. CNSL addition successfully suppressed the methane production potential of feces from both ruminants by shifting short chain fatty acid profiles towards propionate production. Methane mitigation continued for almost 150 days, although the degree of mitigation was more apparent from Day 0 to Day 30. Bacterial and archaeal community shifts with CNSL addition were observed in feces from both ruminants; specifically, Bacteroides increased, whereas Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae decreased in feces to which CNSL was added. Fecal slurry did not show marked changes in gas production with CNSL addition. The findings showed that the addition of CNSL to the feces of ruminants native to the Southeast Asian region can suppress methane emission. Because CNSL can be easily obtained as a byproduct of the local cashew industry in this region, its on-site application might be ideal.     

湖羊羔羊早期断奶前后瘤胃发酵与微生物区系的变化

本试验旨在研究湖羊羔羊早期断奶前后的瘤胃发酵与微生物区系变化,为幼龄反刍动物瘤胃发育变化理论以及羔羊的早期培育等提供依据。选择初生重接近的湖羊公羔(3.81 kg±0.55 kg)16只,1~7日龄饲喂母乳,8日龄与母羊分离,开始饲喂代乳粉(按8日龄体重的2%,分3次等量饲喂)和开食料(自由采食),35日龄断奶。分别于断奶前(21日龄)、后(42日龄)各选择5只羔羊进行屠宰,采集瘤胃内容物,测定瘤胃发酵、酶活和微生物区系。结果表明,断奶后羔羊的瘤胃总挥发性脂肪酸、乙酸、丙酸、丁酸及纤维素酶和α-淀粉酶活性均极显著高于断奶前(P<0.01)。断奶后瘤胃菌群多样性和丰富度均低于断奶前(P<0.05)。断奶前后的优势菌门均为拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和厚壁菌门(Firmicutes),其中,拟杆菌门为第一优势菌门,在断奶前后分别占61.96%和65.36%,厚壁菌门为第二优势菌门,在断奶前后分别占32.08%和24.03%;两菌门之和在断奶前后分别占瘤胃总菌门的94.04%和89.39%。断奶前后的优势菌属均为unidentified_Prevotellaceae,分别占21.85%和38.49%。断奶前后羔羊瘤胃微生物的功能没有显著变化,都主要集中在复制和修复、碳水化合物代谢和翻译等途径。以上结果说明,羔羊早期断奶后的瘤胃发酵和酶活增强,菌群多样性和丰富度有所降低,在早期断奶前后的优势菌群和功能相似。     

奶牛场温室气体排放与减排措施

奶牛养殖在产能提升的同时也排放了大量温室气体。本文梳理了奶牛养殖场温室气体排放的重点环节,主要分为奶牛养殖活动温室气体排放以及牛场日常运行耗能两个方面;结合奶牛养殖肠道发酵和粪污管理的温室气体核算方法,归类整理了主要的减排措施,包括进行提高饲料质量和转化效率、粪污高效管理、清洁能源替代等方式,助力奶牛养殖实现低碳乃至零碳排放。     

A review of okara (soybean curd residue) utilization as animal feed: Nutritive value and animal performance aspects

Year by year, huge quantities of by-products are generated during the manufacturing process of soybean-based products. Okara is one of the by-products, and it is an insoluble portion of the soybean. It consists of high moisture (8.4–22.9%); on dry matter basis, it contains high metabolizable energy (9.0–14.2 MJ/kg) and other components that include crude protein (20.9–39.1%), crude fiber (12.2–61.3%), crude fat (4.9–21.5%), and ash (3.4–5.3%). Fermentation of okara improves its nutritional quality and reduces its anti-nutrient contents. Due to animals' palatability, okara can be used to replace the soybean meal/concentrate feed partially or completely in ruminant's diet and partially in nonruminant's diet. Okara feeding does not depress the intake, digestibility, growth, milk production, blood metabolic profiles, and meat quality of animals. However, this by-product decays quickly due to its high moisture content, and its heavy weight and sticky nature make it difficult to process and expensive to dry using conventional methods. This paper thoroughly summarizes the utilization of okara as animal feed in the cause of developing a general guideline with favorable levels of inclusion in the diets of animals for its exploitation and valorization. This review will encourage further research to develop eco-friendly and value added feed for animals.     

芹菜发酵液对小鼠溃疡性结肠炎的保护作用研究

本试验旨在研究发酵前后芹菜汁的主要功能成分变化和芹菜发酵液对葡聚糖硫酸钠（DSS）诱导的小鼠溃疡性结肠炎（UC）的防治及免疫调节作用。选取50只4周龄雄性C57BL/6小鼠随机分为空白组、模型组及低、中、高浓度芹菜发酵液组,每组10只。按10 μL/g BW的剂量标准给空白组和模型组小鼠灌胃无菌生理盐水,其他组小鼠则灌胃不同浓度的芹菜发酵液,持续7 d。从第8天开始,除空白组自由饮用无菌水外,其余组连续7 d自由饮用3% DSS溶液;在此过程,每日称量体重,进行疾病活动指数（DAI）评分。在第14天,通过摘眼球取血法获得全血,随后脱颈处死小鼠,解剖取出结肠组织测量长度并通过苏木素-伊红（HE）染色法制作病理切片,进行病理学分析。以流式细胞仪分选技术检测外周血中CD4⁺/CD8⁺T淋巴细胞比值,以酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）检测血清中肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、γ-干扰素（IFN-γ）和IL-10的含量。结果表明：①芹菜汁经发酵后,总酸、总糖、总多酚、类黄酮、维生素C和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）等多种活性成分的含量均显著增加（P<0.05）。②与模型组相比,芹菜发酵液高浓度组能减少DSS引起的小鼠体重损失（P<0.01）、结肠缩短（P<0.01）和DAI降低（P<0.05）。③组织病理学分析结果表明,各发酵液组的UC症状均得到不同程度改善,肠腺结构相对完整,杯状细胞轻微减少,仅有少量淋巴细胞和中性粒细胞浸入。④流式细胞仪分析结果显示,相较于模型组,发酵液组全血CD4⁺/CD8⁺T淋巴细胞比值极显著升高（P<0.01）。⑤ELISA检测结果显示,与模型组相比,芹菜发酵液组的IL-6、TNF-α和IFN-γ含量极显著下调（P<0.01）,IL-10的含量极显著上调（P<0.01）。综上,芹菜汁经发酵后主要功能活性成分均得到显著提高,并且发酵芹菜液对DSS诱导的小鼠UC具有一定的防治和免疫调节作用,其作用机制可能与维持外周血中CD4⁺与CD8⁺T淋巴细胞平衡,以及抑制促炎症因子（TNF-α、IL-6和IFN-γ）表达,促进抗炎症因子（IL-10）表达有关。