Two experiments were conducted to study the effect of supplemental 100 g/day of live Bacillus cultures (2 x 10(11) cell of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis) on rumen fermentation as well as milk yield and composition in Chinese Holstein cows. In experiment 1, investigating 3 x 10 cows, milk yield and milk protein were increased by using B. licheniformis (p < 0.05) in comparison with an unsupplemented group and the B. subtilis group. Body weight was not significantly affected by Bacillus culture supplementation (p > 0.05). Percentage of milk fat and lactose was not significantly different between treatments (p > 0.05). But milk protein increased with B. licheniformis supplementation (p < 0.05). In experiment 2, carried out with three non-lactating ruminally and duodenally fistulated cows, results showed that B. licheniformis supplementation increased microbial crude protein flow into duodenum (p < 0.05) and decreased the ammonia nitrogen concentration in ruminal fluid at 0.5 h, 1 h, 3 h, 6 h after morning feeding (p < 0.05). Bacillus licheniformis supplementation increased total VFA and acetate concentration in ruminal fluid at 0.5 h, 1 h, 3 h, 6 h after morning feeding (p < 0.05). Bacillus subtilis had no significant effect on rumen fermentation characteristics, duodenal microbial N flow and ruminal apparent nutrient digestibility (p > 0.05). Bacillus licheniformis increased ruminal apparent nutrient digestibility of neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, and organic matter (p < 0.05).

The effect of chitosan/nano-titanium dioxide coating with antimicrobial agents on ready to eat cantaloupe fruit by chilling was investigated. In comparison with uncoated samples, ascorbic acid and juice leakage in chitosan/nano-titanium dioxide (CH/TiO2) treated fruit were significantly maintained. Likewise, the decrease of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total soluble solids (TSS) in chitosan/nano-titanium dioxide/thymol/tween (CH/TiO2/TT) coated fruits was also inhibited. Total mold and yeast population counts decreased from 2.60 to 1.60 log CFU/g, respectively. Moreover, activities of water (AW) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) were also much lower than those in control sample fruit. The results indicated that (CH/TiO2/TT) coating was effective in enhancing the shelf life with acceptable in the internal and the external cantaloupe fruit quality.

Two experiments were carried out in this study. Experiment 1 was conducted to examine the effects of several supplemental Chinese herbs on antioxidant function and slaughtered body weight in sheep. Results indicated that Fructus Ligustri Lucidi supplementation improved the blood antioxidant function [higher concentration of glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase and lower concentration of malondialdehyde] and slaughtered body weight in sheep (p < 0.05). Experiment 2 was conducted to investigate the effect of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi extract (FLLE) on rumen fermentation and nutrient digestibility in sheep. Four levels of FLLE treatments, i.e. 0, 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg dry matter (DM), were used in this part. Addition of FLLE at 300 or 500 mg/kg DM increased total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration and propionate proportion, decreased ammonia-N concentration in the ruminal fluid, reduced blood urea nitrogen concentration at 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after morning feeding (p < 0.05). Addition of FLLE at all dosages had no effect on ruminal pH value and acetate concentration at all sampling time points in sheep (p > 0.05). Dynamic degradation coefficient c of maize DM was significantly increased by supplementing FLLE at 300 or 500 mg/kg DM (p < 0.05). Fructus Ligustri Lucidi extract addition had no effect on degradation coefficients a, b, c of DM and nitrogen of soybean meal; a, b of maize DM; a, b, c of maize nitrogen; and a, b, c of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) of Chinese wildrye (p > 0.05). Addition of FLLE at 300 or 500 mg/kg DM increased DM and organic matter digestibility of diet (p < 0.05). Fructus Ligustri Lucidi extract addition had no effect on digestibility of diet's NDF, ADF and crude protein (p > 0.05). From the aforementioned results, it is indicated that FLLE improved antioxidant status and slaughtered body weight. Fructus Ligustri Lucidi extract addition has capability to modulate rumen fermentation, increase the maize degradation rate, total volatile fatty acid concentration and propionate proportion in sheep.

Two experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of supplemental Chinese herbs, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL), Radix Astragali (RA) and Radix Codonopsis (RC) on growth performance, blood antioxidant and immune function in Holstein dairy heifers fed high fibre diet. Experiment 1 indicated that the supplementation of the three herbs had no effect on dry matter intake. FLL Supplementation increased heifers average daily gain (ADG), final body weight and feed efficiency. Experiment 2 indicated that FLL supplementation improved the blood antioxidant function with higher concentration of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lower concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), and improved immune function with lower concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and immunoreactive fibronectin (IFN-γ). Addition of FLL increased apparent digestibility of diet's dry matter and organic matter than the other groups. It was demonstrated that FLL supplementation improved nutrient digestion, feed efficiency, blood antioxidant function, immune and growth performance for Holstein dairy heifers.

The object of this study was to investigate the effect of two altitudes (1600 vs. 3600 m) with two nutritional levels [5.88 MJ/kg dry matter (DM) vs. 7.56 MJ/kg DM] on apparent total tract digestibility, rumen fermentation, energy metabolism, milk yield and milk composition in Chinese Holstein cows. Sixteen Chinese Holstein cows in their third lactation with close body weights, days in milk and milk yield were randomly divided into four groups, of which two were directly transferred from Lanzhou (altitude of 1600 m) to Lhasa (altitude of 3600 m). Four treatments (high plateau and high nutrition level, HA-HN; high plateau and low nutrition level, HA-LN; low plateau and high nutrition level, LA-HN; and low plateau and low nutrition level, LA-LN) were randomly arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial experimental design. Results indicated that the apparent total tract digestibility of a diet's DM, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre and DM intake were not affected by either altitude or nutrition level (p > 0.05). Milk protein percentage was higher for the diet with the high level of nutrition than for the diet with low nutrition level irrespective of altitude (p < 0.05). Percentages of milk fat and milk lactose were not affected by either altitude or nutrition level (p > 0.05). The metabolizable energy used for milk energy output was decreased by high altitude in comparison with that at low altitude (p < 0.05). No differences were observed in the live body weight or body condition score (BCS) of Chinese Holstein cows among all of the four treatments (p > 0.05).