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Trout production is a growing activity in recent years but requires new alternative sources of feed to be sustainable over time. The objective of this research was to determine the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) and digestible energy (DE) of kañiwa (Chenopodium pallidicaule Aellen), kiwicha (Amaranthus caudatus L), quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd), beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), sacha inchi, (Plukenetia volubilis L) and jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) meal in juvenile rainbow trout. The experimental diets were composed of a 70% basal diet and 30% of any raw materials. The ADC was determined by the indirect method using insoluble ash as a non-digestible marker. Jumbo squid, sacha inchi and quinoa showed the highest values of ADC (%) of DM (84.5, 73.5 and 69.7), OM (89.1, 78.4 and 72.9), CP (93.2, 98.0 and 90.3), and DE (4.57, 4.15 and 2.95 Mcal/kg DM), respectively. The ADC values for kañiwa, kiwicha and bean were significantly lower. In conclusion, quinoa meal and jumbo squid meal have an acceptable digestibility but sacha inchi meal is a potential alternative for rainbow trout feeding in the future.

It is known that nitrate inhibits ruminal methanogenesis, mainly through competition with hydrogenotrophic methanogens for available hydrogen (H 2 ) and also through toxic effects on the methanogens. However, there is limited knowledge about its effects on the others members of ruminal microbiota and their metabolites. In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary nitrate inclusion on enteric methane (CH 4 ) emission, temporal changes in ruminal microbiota, and fermentation in Holstein calves. Eighteen animals were maintained in individual pens for 45 d. Animals were randomly allocated to either a control (CTR) or nitrate (NIT, containing 15 g of calcium nitrate/kg dry matter) diets. Methane emissions were estimated using the sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) tracer method. Ruminal microbiota changes and ruminal fermentation were evaluated at 0, 4, and 8 h post-feeding. In this study, feed dry matter intake (DMI) did not differ between dietary treatments ( P > 0.05). Diets containing NIT reduced CH 4 emissions by 27% (g/d) and yield by 21% (g/kg DMI) compared to the CTR ( P < 0.05). The pH values and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration did not differ between dietary treatments ( P > 0.05) but differed with time, and post-feeding ( P < 0.05). Increases in the concentrations of ruminal ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 –N) and acetate were observed, whereas propionate decreased at 4 h post-feeding with the NIT diet ( P < 0.05). Feeding the NIT diet reduced the populations of total bacteria, total methanogens, Ruminococcus albus and Ruminococcus flavefaciens , and the abundance of Succiniclasticum , Coprococcus , Treponema , Shuttlewortia , Succinivibrio , Sharpea , Pseudobutyrivibrio , and Selenomona ( P < 0.05); whereas, the population of total fungi, protozoa, Fibrobacter succinogenes , Atopobium and Erysipelotrichaceae L7A_E11 increased ( P < 0.05). In conclusion, feeding nitrate reduces enteric CH 4 emissions and the methanogens population, whereas it decreases the propionate concentration and the abundance of bacteria involved in the succinate and acrylate pathways. Despite the altered fermentation profile and ruminal microbiota, DMI was not influenced by dietary nitrate. These findings suggest that nitrate has a predominantly direct effect on the reduction of methanogenesis and propionate synthesis.

Sulphur (S) dietary excess can limit productive performance and increase polioencephalomalacia (PEM) incidence in feedlot cattle (FC). Sulphur excess ingested is transformed to hydrogen sulphide (H2S) by sulfo‐reducing ruminal bacteria (SRB), being high ruminal H2S concentration responsible for aforementioned damages. As the ruminal mechanisms involved in H2S concentrations increase have not been elucidated, this study aimed to evaluate the ruminal environment, and the association between ruminal H2S and dissimilatory SRB (DSRB) concentration in FC experimentally subjected to S dietary excess. Twelve crossbred steers were randomly assigned to one of two dietary S levels (6 animals per treatment): low (LS, 0.19% S) and high (HS, 0.39% S obtained by sodium sulfate inclusion at 0.86%). The study lasted 38 days, and on days 0, 22 and 38, ruminal gas samples were taken to quantify H2S concentration, and ruminal fluid to determine total bacteria, DSRB, protozoa, volatile fatty acid and ammonia nitrogen concentration. For ruminal H2S concentration, S dietary × sampling day interaction was significant (p < 0.001), so that the greater concentration was observed on days 22 and 38 with the HS diet. The remaining ruminal parameters were not affected by dietary S level, and no significant correlation between H2S and DSRB concentrations was observed. The ruminal adaptation that maximizes H2S production in FC consuming S excess does not seem to be associated with biological or biochemical alterations, nor DSRB concentration changes. The microbial diversity and ruminal environment were resilient to the S excess evaluated, suggesting that 0.39% of dietary S achieved by 0.86% sodium sulfate addition, could be used without disturbances on digestion nor health of FC.