Enhancing the Utilization of Palm Leaf Hay Using Bacillus subtilis and Phanerochaete chrysosporium in the Diet of Lambs Under Desert Conditions

Abstract

The efficiency of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis and white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium on growth performance, blood metabolites, carcass characteristics, meat composition and nutrient digestibility of lambs fed crushed whole palm leaf hay was investigated for 105 d. In Experiment 1 (Growth experiment), twenty-four lambs (29.5 ± 1.25 kg) were divided into four feed-based treatments: (1) concentrate and wheat straw ad libitum (control), (2) palm leaf hay (DPL), (3) palm leaf hay supplemented with 2 g of B. subtilis and P. chrysosporium (DPL2) or (4) palm leaf hay supplemented with 4 g of B. subtilis and P. chrysosporium (DPL4). In Experiment 2 (Digestibility experiment), twelve rams, three from each treatment, were used to study nutrient digestibility using the faecal bag technique. Results of the Experiment 1 showed that the DPL4 showed greater (P=0.049) live-weight gain than the control. The diets containing palm leaf hay showed lower (P=0.001) roughage and total feed intake and higher (P=0.001) feed efficiency than the control. Increased serum total protein, globulin, urea-N, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were observed with the DPL4 (P˂0.05). Additionally, diets containing palm leaf hay showed higher ALT levels than the control. The DPL4 increased the hot carcass weight (P=0.006) and dressing percentage (P=0.036), and the diets supplemented with B. subtilis and P. chrysosporium decreased (P˂0.05) the tail fat and all fat levels compared with the DPL treatment. Results of the Experiment 2 showed that nutrient digestibility was lower (P˂0.05) with the DPL and DPL2 than with the control and DPL4. Compared with the control, nutrient digestibility of DPL4 was not affected. It is concluded that replacement of wheat straw with palm leaf hay did not affect the feed utilization or animal performance of the lambs; however, supplementation with B. subtilis and P. chrysosporium at 4 g/lamb daily enhanced the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and carcass characteristics without any adverse effects on blood metabolites.

The effects of replacement of berseem hay in total mixed rations with date palm leaves ensiled with malic or lactic acids at different levels on the nutritive value, ruminal in vitro biogas production and fermentation

“…Fresh DPL were collected from different sites in the New Valley Governorate (Egypt) and sun-dried for 10 days [2]. Sun-dried rice straw (RS) was collected from local suppliers in Egypt.…”

“…The gas volume in the blank units was subtracted to obtain net GP. Values of GP at 0, 2,4,6,8,10,12,16,20,24,36,48,72, and 96 h were extracted for estimation of GP kinetics. At each incubation time, gas samples (5 mL) were taken from the sampling vent and infused into a Gas-Pro detector (Gas Analyzer CROWCON Model Tetra3, Abingdon, UK) to measure the concentration of CH 4 and CO 2 .…”

“…Replacement of berseem hay with malic or lactic acid-treated DPL did not affect DM or NDF degradability. Similar results were observed by El-Zaiat et al [8] and Genc et al [34] who observed unaffected Table 3 In vitro ruminal total gas and methane (CH 4 ) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) production kinetics of rations containing different levels of date palm leaves ensiled without additives, with lactic acid or malic acid treated 1 Date palm leaves at different forms (ensiled without additives, with lactic acid or malic acid) replaced berseem hay at 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100%, DM basis 2 b is the asymptotic total gas or CH 4 or CO 2 production (mL/g DM); c is the rate of total gas or CH 4 or CO 2 production (/h); Lag is the initial delay before total gas or CH 4 or CO 2 production starts (h) SEM standard error of the mean Ration 1 Replacement level Total gas production (mL/g DM) 2 CH 4 production (mL/g DM) 2 CO 2 production (mL/g DM) nutrient degradability with malic acid in vitro administration. In another experiment, Ebrahimi et al [35] and Pal et al [36] observed that fumaric or malic acids did not affect the digestibility of DM, OM, NDF, and ADF.…”

“…Globally, large amounts of agriculture byproducts are produced annually, without a significant utilization [1]. Date palm (Phoenix dactilifera) leaves (DPL) are an example of the agricultural byproducts with a considerable potential nutritive value, but unsatisfactory use [2]. The nutritive value of DPL is hindered due to high concentration of fiber [3].…”

The sustainable mitigation of in vitro ruminal biogas emissions by ensiling date palm leaves and rice straw with lactic acid bacteria and Pleurotus ostreatus for cleaner livestock production

“…Overcoming the inherent barriers to ruminal microbial fermentation is the basic key to improve the use of low‐quality agriculture by‐products for ruminants (Abdel‐Aziz et al, 2015). Biological methods, including the treatment with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and white rot fungi showed an economically feasible and environmentally acceptable method (Hamdon et al, 2020; Kholif et al, 2014).…”