Effects of Supplementation with Royal Poinciana Seed Meal (Delonix regia) on Ruminal Fermentation Pattern, Microbial Protein Synthesis, Blood Metabolites and Mitigation of Methane Emissions in Native Thai Beef Cattle

Abstract

Simple SummaryStrategic feeding of ruminants with pellets containing phytochemical compounds is one approach that could enhance rumen fermentation and decrease greenhouse gases. It was found that feeding with the pellets containing royal poinciana seed meal at 150 g/d might be an alternative to improve rumen fermentation efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of ruminants.AbstractThe object of this present work was to determine the effects of supplementation with pellets containing royal poinciana seed meal (PEREM) on feed use, ruminal fermentation efficiency, microbial protein synthesis, blood metabolites and mitigation of methane (CH4) emissions in cattle. The animals used in this experiment were four male Thai native beef cattle (Bos indicus) with initial body weights (BWs) of 125 ± 5.0 kg. Each of the animals were randomly assigned to receive PEREM doses at 0, 50, 100 and 150 g/d, respectively, according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Concentrates were fed at 0.5% BW daily, and rice straw was fed ad libitum. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) on intakes of rice straw, concentrate and total diet. The intake of nutrients did not change among the levels of PEREM supplementation (p > 0.05), except for an intake of crude protein, which was linearly enhanced when increasing the dose of PEREM (p < 0.05). The inclusion of different doses of PEREM did not adversely affect the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber (p > 0.05). Adding various doses of PEREM did not alter ruminal pH and ruminal temperature, while concentrations of ammonia-nitrogen were significantly increased with an increased dose of PEREM supplementation (p < 0.01). The increasing doses of PEREM linearly reduced protozoal numbers (p < 0.01), with the lowest concentration when PEREM was added at 150 g. PEREM supplementation did not change (p > 0.05) the concentration of acetic acid or butyric acid or the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid. Nevertheless, the total volatile fatty acid and propionic acid content were changed among PEREM levels (p < 0.05), which were linearly increased with an increasing dose of PEREM. At 4 h post feeding, the CH4 concentrations in the rumen of the animal were linearly reduced when the dose of pellets was increased (p < 0.01). In addition, the inclusion of PEREM did not adversely affect other blood metabolites, namely total protein, creatinine and albumin (p > 0.05). Furthermore, microbial crude protein and efficiency of microbial N synthesis were linearly enhanced when increasing levels of PEREM were added. The feeding of PEREM at 150 g/d might be an alternative with the potential to improve rumen fermentation efficiency and reduce the environmental effects produced by ruminants.

Pleurotus Ostreatus and Volvariella Volvacea Can Enhance the Quality of Purple Field Corn Stover and Modulate Ruminal Fermentation and Feed Utilization in Tropical Beef Cattle

“…This could be because purple field corn stover contains higher nutritive value than rice straw. The high CP intake could provide N available for rumen microbes to synthesize their cells with their energy source [36].…”

“…The microbes use these sugars as an energy source for their own growth and produce propionic acid [47,48]. Moreover, purple field corn stover had high anthocyanin and gallic acid, which could inhibit CH 4 synthesis by changing hydrogen from the CH 4 pathway to propionic acid form [5,36]. An alternative electron sink for a metabolic route to dispose the reduced power has to happen.…”

“…This might be because the high CP and carbohydrates in purple field corn stover have the potential to improve the ruminal fermentation toward maximizing microbial protein production [57]. Furthermore, anthocyanin could support a synchronized release of nitrogen and carbohydrates from purple field corn stover, which is responsible for microbial efficiency enhancement [36]. More reasons could be that protozoa engulf other microbes as their main nutrient source [58] and as a result, defaunation could be more rumen efficient in terms of proteosynthesis enhancing the duodenal flow of microbe mass.…”

Invited Review: Glucosinolates Might Result in Low Methane Emissions From Ruminants Fed Brassica Forages

“…Methane emissions also cause energy losses in livestock, which account for 3.9-10.7% of the metabolic energy ingested, resulting in less efficient energy utilization by the animal (4). Reducing CH 4 emissions, therefore, has the potential to improve feed conversion efficiency (5). Thus, mitigation of CH 4 emissions helps not only environmental protection but also has substantial economic benefits to promote sustainable development of animal husbandry (6,7).…”

Influence of Supplementing Sesbania Grandiflora Pod Meal at Two Dietary Crude Protein Levels on Feed Intake, Fermentation Characteristics, and Methane Mitigation in Thai Purebred Beef Cattle

“…Thus, mitigating CH4 emission is not only a benefit to the environment but also enhances the energy utilization in ruminants. Various approaches including dietary manipulation, antibiotics, and plant secondary compounds (PSCs) for CH4 mitigation have been tested, and using PSCs such as saponin and tannin shows the most effective approach recently [3][4][5] for CH4 mitigation.…”