The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and cellulase (CE) on the fermentation quality, rumen degradation rate and bacterial community of mixed silage of soybean residue (SR) and corn stover (CS). The experiment adopted a single-factor experimental design. Four treatment groups were set up: the control group (CON), lactic acid bacteria treatment group (LAB), cellulase treatment group (CE) and lactic acid bacteria + cellulase treatment group (LAB + CE). Among them, the amount of added LAB was 1 × 106 CFU/g, and the amount of added CE was 100 U/g. After 56 days of mixed silage, samples were taken and analyzed, and the chemical composition, fermentation quality, rumen degradation rate and microbial diversity were determined. The results showed that the pH of each treatment group was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that of CON, while the lactic acid and ammoniacal nitrogen contents of each treatment group were significantly higher than that of CON, with the highest contents in the LAB + CE group. The contents of DNFom (Ash-free NDF), ADFom (Ash-free ADF) and DM in the LAB + CE group were significantly lower than those in the CON group, while the content of crude protein (CP) was significantly higher than that in the CON group. The in situ effective degradation rates of DM (ISDMD), DNF (ISNDFD) and CP (ISCPD) were all significantly (p < 0.05) higher in each treatment group than in the control group. The results of principal component analysis showed that the bacterial composition of the LAB, CE and LAB + CE groups was significantly different from that of the CON group (p < 0.05). Bacterial genus level analysis showed that the content of lactic acid bacteria was significantly higher in the LAB + CE group than in the other treatment groups (p < 0.05), while the content of undesirable bacteria was significantly lower than in the other treatment groups. The results showed that the addition of Lactobacillus and/or cellulase in mixed silage of SR and CS could effectively improve the quality of mixed silage fermentation, rumen degradation rate and microbial diversity, with better results when Lactobacillus and cellulase were added together, which provides new ideas for better application of SR and CS in dairy production.

Bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) of high‐producing dairy cows are subject to constant oxidative stress as a result of high metabolic rate and physiological adaptation to intensive farming. Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf has been proposed to have the antioxidant potential in scavenging free radicals due to the presence of flavonoids. In this study, we investigated the cytoprotective effects of moringa leaf flavonoids in alleviating oxidative stress in BMECs in vitro. Oxidative stress was established by exposing isolated BMECs to H2O2 for 2 hr. Doses of moringa leaf flavonoids were evaluated by treating BMECs for 12 hr. The optimal concentrations of H2O2 and moringa leaf flavonoids were 500 μmol/L and 1.0 mg/ml, respectively. The results showed that moringa leaf flavonoids increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase; and reduced malondialdehyde activity and intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the H2O2‐induced oxidative stress system. A Hoechst33258 staining assay revealed that moringa leaf flavonoids decreased the apoptosis rate in BMECs, while leaving membrane integrity and nucleolar morphology unchanged. We concluded that moringa leaf flavonoids have the antioxidant capacity to effectively reduce oxidative stress in BMECs.

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with a fermented corn gluten-wheat bran mixture (FCWM) on nutrient digestibility, lactation performance, plasma metabolites, ruminal fermentation, and bacterial communities in Holstein cows. Nine healthy multiparous (parity = 3) Holstein cows with similar body weights (624 ± 14.4 kg), days in milk (112 ± 4.2), and milk yields (31.8 ± 1.73 kg; all mean ± standard deviation) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 3 periods of 28 d. Cows were fed 1 of 3 dietary treatments in which FCWM replaced SBM as follows: basal diet with no replacement (0FCWM); 50% replacement of SBM with FCWM (50%FCWM); and 100% replacement of SBM with FCWM (100%FCWM). The diets were formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous. The results showed that the total-tract digestibility of dry matter and crude protein increased linearly with increased dietary FCWM, and we found a trend for increased total-tract neutral detergent fiber and potentially digestible NDF digestibility. Milk yield tended to increase in a linear manner as more FCWM was consumed, and energycorrected milk production was significantly increased with FCWM supplementation as a result of increased milk protein and lactose yields. Plasma glucose and IgG concentrations increased linearly with increasing FCWM supplementation, but plasma malondialdehyde concentration decreased linearly. Concentrations of total volatile fatty acids and propionate showed a linear increase with increasing FCWM supplementation, leading to a linear decrease in pH. The relative abundance of ruminal Prevotellaceae, Veillonellaceae, and Prevotella 1 increased linearly with increasing FCWM supplementation, and the relative abundance of ruminal Succinivibrionaceae and Muribaculaceae decreased linearly.The relative abundance of fecal Ruminococcaceae, Prevotellaceae, and Ruminococcaceae UCG-005 increased linearly with increasing FCWM supplementation, but the relative abundance of fecal Peptostreptococcaceae decreased linearly. Overall, the replacement of SBM with FCWM altered the composition of the ruminal bacterial community and improved nutrient digestibility, lactation performance, and ruminal fermentation in cows, providing a data reference for the use of FCWM in dairy production.

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Background Unreasonable use of antibiotics in animals is a major concern and will remain so, thus affecting people's health. However, the application of plant extracts can better solve this problem. Objectives The purpose of this study was to study the effect of Moringa leaf flavonoids on the production performance, immunity, and rumen fermentation of dairy cows. Methods Nine Holstein multiparous cows (average weight: 550 kg; days of lactation: 150 ± 6 days) were used in the experiment, using a 3 × 3 Latin square design. Cows were divided into three groups, each of which was supplemented with 0, 50, or 100 mg/body weight (BW) Moringa oleifera leaf flavonoids. Each experimental period consisted of three periods of 21 days, and the prefeeding period lasted 15 days. Results Our results indicated that supplementation with Moringa leaf flavonoids increased the protein content and decreased the number of somatic cells in milk; had little effect on the biochemical indices of blood, the rumen fermentation, and serum biochemical indicators; and improved the activity of antioxidant enzymes, the antioxidant capacity, and immunity. Conclusions Addition of 50 mg/BW Moringa leaf flavonoids to cow enhanced the antioxidant and immunity capacity in dairy cows but did not affect physiological levels of common biochemical parameters in blood or fermentation parameters in rumen.

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BACKGROUNDPine sterol ester is a type of novel food source nutrient with great advantages in lowering blood cholesterol levels, inhibiting tumors, preventing prostate enlargement, and regulating immunity. Macroporous resins with large specific surface area, stable structures, and various functional groups (epoxy, amino, and octadecyl groups) have been selected for immobilization of Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) to improve its stability and efficiency in the synthesis of pine sterol esters. A solvent‐free strategy using oleic acid (substrate) as an esterification reaction medium is an important alternative for avoiding the use of organic solvents.RESULTSThe immobilization conditions of CRL immobilized on several types of commercial macroporous resins were optimized. Fortunately, by adsorption (hydrophobic interaction), a high immobilization efficiency of CRL was obtained using macroporous resins with hydrophobic octadecyl groups with an immobilization efficiency of 86.5%, enzyme loading of 138.5 mg g−1 and enzyme activity of 34.7 U g−1. The results showed that a 95.1% yield could be obtained with a molar ratio of oleic acid to pine sterol of 5:1, an enzyme amount of 6.0 U g−1 (relative to pine sterol mass) at 50 °C for 48 h.CONCLUSIONThe hydrophobic macroporous resin (ECR8806M) with a large specific surface area and abundant functional groups was used to achieve efficient immobilization of CRL. CRL@ECR8806M is an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of phytosterol esters and has the potential for further large‐scale applications. Therefore, this simple, green, and low‐cost strategy for lipase immobilization provides new possibilities for the high‐efficiency production of pine sterol esters and other food source nutrients. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

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