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The effect of silage additives on ensiling characteristics and nutritive value of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) silages was studied. Napier grass silages were made with no additive, fermented juice of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (FJLB), molasses or cassava meal. The ensiling characteristics were determined by ensiling Napier grass silages in airtight plastic pouches for 2, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 45 d. The effect of Napier grass silages treated with these additives on voluntary feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation and microbial rumen fermentation was determined in 4 fistulated cows using 4×4 Latin square design. The pH value of the treated silages rapidly decreased, and reached to the lowest value within 7 d of the start of fermentation, as compared to the control. Lactic acid content of silages treated with FJLB was stable at 14 d of fermentation and constant until 45 d of ensiling. At 45 d of ensiling, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of silage treated with cassava meal were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the others. In the feeding trial, the intake of silage increased (p<0.05) in the cow fed with the treated silage. Among the treatments, dry matter intake was the lowest in the silage treated with cassava meal. The organic matter, crude protein and NDF digestibility of the silage treated with molasses was higher than the silage without additive and the silage treated with FJLB. The rumen parameters: ruminal pH, ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N), volatile fatty acid (VFA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and bacterial populations were not significantly different among the treatments. In conclusion, these studies confirmed that the applying of molasses improved fermentative quality, feed intake and digestibility of Napier grass.

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Context Rumen biohydrogenation is an important way to produce conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), especially the rumenic acid isomer. However, CLA is principally synthesised endogenously in lactating mammals by delta 9-desaturase in breast tissue. Aims The aim of the study was to evaluate milk fatty acid profile, rumen microbial population and animal performance in response to diets containing sunflower oil either supplemented with or without flavonoids and essential oils from Piper betle L. powder (PP) in dairy goats. Method Twelve multiparous Saanen goats (42 ± 1.00 kg; mean ± s.d.) were randomly assigned to two treatment groups in an experiment that lasted for 6 weeks. The two experimental diets formulated as total mixed ration were: control (CTH) diet (containing 0% PP) and DPB diet (CTH diet containing 1.3% PP on a dry-matter basis). Key results Inclusion of flavonoids and essential oils from PP in the diet (DPB) did not affect dry-matter intake but resulted in a greater milk yield and altered the composition of milk. Compared with the control diet (CTH), the DPB diet decreased the saturated fatty acid concentration and increased the unsaturated fatty acid concentration in milk. Inclusion of PP decreased the C18:0 production (P < 0.05), resulting in higher C18:1 trans11 and C18:2 cis9 trans11 (P < 0.05) concentrations. Overall, DPB diet increased the total CLA by 1.5-fold, from 1.77 to 2.62 g/100 g fatty acid. The desaturase rate (except desaturase for carbon 18, P < 0.05), and atherogenic and thrombogenic indices were not affected by inclusion of PP in the DPB diet. Moreover, the DPB diet escalated total volatile fatty acid production and altered the volatile fatty acid profile. Compared with goats fed with CTH diet, PP supplementation increased the presence of ruminal Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens by ~5-fold, but the presence of B. proteoclasticus decreased to about 1/11 of the control. Conclusions The use of sunflower oil at 17.6 g/kg diet and inclusion of a practical dose of flavonoids and essential oils from Piper betle L. leaves in the diet of dairy goats can be an efficient method to improve milk yield and milk composition, including increasing the CLA concentration of milk. Implications These results constitute an alternative strategy to improve milk quality, without negatively affecting animal performance.

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At present, there is little information regarding whether supplementation with Piper betle powder (PBP) and sunflower oil (SFO) has a synergistic effect on lowering methane emissions without negatively impacting ruminal fermentation. This study investigated the effects of PBP, supplemented either with or without SFO, on biogas release, fermentation end-products, and microorganisms in the rumen of lactating goats. The treatments were run in a completely randomized 3 × 5 factorial arrangement, whereby 0, 15, and 30 mg SFO were combined with 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 mg PBP on a dry matter basis. The outcomes were assessed in vitro. PBP was obtained from the perennial plant Piper betle L., which is an abundant source of flavonoids and their aromatic derivatives. SFO, which reduces dietary methane emissions, was supplemented to confirm whether it interacted with other nutrients in the ruminant diet. SFO × PBP significantly (p < 0.05) decreased methane production, enhanced total volatile fatty acid concentrations, and decreased the number of rumen protozoa. We found that 15-30 mg, but not 45-60 mg, PBP combined with 0, 15, and 30 mg SFO increased (p < 0.05) total gas production (including CO2) from fermentation. However, our results suggested that at least 45 mg PBP, either alone or combined with SFO, was required to reduce ammonia-N (p < 0.05). Not all treatments affected rumen pH. In conclusion, supplementing PBP (< 30 mg), either alone or combined with SFO, has a suppressing effect on methane production while preserving an optimum rate of rumen fermentation.

ABSTRACT: Piper betle L. is edible plant richer in polyphenols that might improve feed utilization in rumen diet. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of various Piper betle L. powder (PL) doses on in vitro rumen microorganisms, ruminal biogas and fermentation end-product production, and biohydrogenation including lipolysis-isomerization. The completely randomized design used five levels of PL supplementation (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg DM) incubated with 400 mg of a basal substrate of Pangola hay and concentrate (50:50). The matrix compounds (g/kg DM) of 0.27 catechin, 0.11 rutin, 3.48 quercetin, 0.41 apigenin, 0.04 myricetin, 0.27 kaempferol, 0.76 eugenol and 0.22 caryophyllene derived from PL altered the fermentation pattern, with an increase in degradable nutrients and total volatile fatty acids and acetogenesis without shifting pH during fermentation. These values promoted in vitro gas production, with higher carbon dioxide and lower methane production. Although, hydrogen recovery from lipolysis-isomerization in biohydrogenation was limited, PL successfully promoted stearic acid (C18:0) accumulation by changing the biohydrogenation pathway of fatty acids, causing more C18:1 trans-11 rather than C18:2 trans-11, cis-15. Consequently, this resulted in more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) cis-9, trans-11, CLA trans-10, cis-12 and CLA trans-11, cis-13. Enhanced PL supply increased total bacteria and fungal zoospores due to a reduction in rumen protozoa. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that PL is a feed additive with potential for ruminants, promising improved ruminal fermentation and biohydrogenation, while reducing methane production.