The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with a feed additive containing a combination of betaine, biotin, and chromium (BBC) and concentrate-to-roughage ratio (C:R ratio) on nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites, ruminal fermentation, nitrogen balance, and energy utilization in Thai native beef cattle. Five Thai feedlot native beef bulls at one year old of age and 87.6 ± 15.7 kg of body weight were assigned in a (2 × 2) + 1 augmented factorial experiment according to a 5 × 5 Latin square design with five periods of 21 days. The two levels of BBC were 3 g/kg DM and 6 g/kg DM, and the two ratios of C:R were 60C:40R and 70C:30R. A C:R ratio of 70C:30R without BBC supplementation was used as a negative control. The cattle were offered feed at 3% BW, which provides sufficient energy and protein to support a weight gain of 500 g/day. The results showed that dry matter intake (DMI) and organic matter intake (OMI) were not different (p > 0.05), but the intake of crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) was higher (p < 0.05), whereas neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were lower (p < 0.05) in the 70C:30R ratio diets compared to the 60:40R ratio diets. Energy balance and nitrogen balance were not influenced (p > 0.05) by the C:R ratio or the addition of BBC. Rumen pH and ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) did not differ (p > 0.05) among treatments groups. Total volatile fatty acid (VFA) production was higher (p < 0.05) in bulls fed with the 70C:30R ratio diet. The addition of BBC resulted in a lower (p < 0.01) glucose-to-insulin ratio compared to cattle fed with the control diet. Energy and protein utilization efficiency did not differ (p > 0.05) among the experimental treatment groups, which were higher (p > 0.05) than the control group. In conclusion, BBC supplementation showed greater growth performance of cattle compared to the control. BBC supplementation appeared to improve glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity and energy and protein utilization efficiency. Whether BBC supplementation increases glucose production in the liver remains to be determined in future studies.

Eighteen Wagyu crossbred steers (average initial body weight: 596.9 ± 46.4 kg; average age: 36 ± 2.7 months) were subjected to three levels of betaine–biotin–chromium (BBC) supplementation for 98 days before slaughter. Animals were fed a basal diet and BBC supplemented at 0, 3 or 6 g/kg of dry matter (DM). The experimental design was a randomized complete block design by a group of animals with six replicates. The intake and digestibility among treatments were not different (p > 0.05). The average daily gain (ADG) of steers that received BBC at 6 g/kg of DM (0.79 kg/day) tended to be higher (p = 0.07) than that of those receiving BBC at 0 and 3 g/kg/day (0.52 and 0.63 kg/day, respectively). Blood metabolites were not different (p > 0.05) among treatments. Carcass characteristic traits included chilled carcass dressing percentage and loin eye area, while meat quality included drip loss, cooking loss, and Warner-Bratzler shear force were not different (p > 0.05). Back fat thickness tended to be higher (p = 0.07) in steers fed BBC at 6 g/kg. The marbling score did not differ (p > 0.05) among treatments; however, the intramuscular fat content of the longissimus dorsi (LD) on a DM basis was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in steers fed BBC at 6 g/kg (39.8% DM) than in those fed BBC at 0 g/kg (28.2% DM) and at 3 g/kg (29.1% DM). Based on the findings, BBC supplementation had no effect on growth performance and carcass characteristics; however, BBC at 6 g/kg DM increased fat content in LD muscle of finishing Wagyu crossbred steers.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of chestnut hydrolysable tannin (CHT) on intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation, milk yield and somatic cell count in crossbred dairy cows (>75% Holstein Friesian). Four crossbred dairy cows (467.6 ± 35.2 kg BW) were assigned to be supplemented with one of four levels of CHT according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Dietary treatments included the control (without CHT supplementation) and CHT treatments that consisted of supplementation with 3.15, 6.30 and 9.45 g CHT/day. Rice straw was given ad libitum. The results showed that increasing levels of CHT tended to quadratically decrease rice straw intake (p = 0.06). However, total dry matter intake (DMI) and other nutrients were not different (p > 0.05) among the dietary treatments. The apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) in cows with CHT treatments were higher (p < 0.05) than those of control cows. Milk yield and milk composition were not different (p > 0.05) among treatments. Lactose yield tended to increase linearly (p = 0.09) as CHT supplementation increased. Ruminal pH and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) were not different (p > 0.05), but total volatile fatty acids (VFAs) increased linearly (p < 0.05) as CHT levels increased. The somatic cell count (SCC) and somatic cell score (SCS) in the CHT treatments were different (p < 0.01) than those in the control treatment. In conclusion, it appears that CHT supplementation improved feed utilization and influenced SCC in crossbred dairy cows. Long-term research is needed to confirm the benefit of CHT supplementation.

This study examined the effects of hydrolysable tannin (HT) supplementation on nutrient intake, milk production and milk somatic cell count in on-farm dairy cows. Fifty-four Holstein Friesian crossbred cows weighing 450 to 500 kg and were subjected to an experiment for 49 days. Dairy cows were divided into 3 groups, which were 1) the control group without HT supplementation and the HT supplementation groups, which received HT products (15 g/day), 2) one contains 3.15 g/day of HT and 3) another contains 6.30 g/day of HT. Hydrolysable tannin was extracted from sweet chestnut wood (Castanea Sativa Mill.). Dairy cows received HT products on the top of concentrate (22 % CP) in the morning after milking. Total mixed ration (TMR), pangola grass (Digitaria eriantha) hay and concentrate were offered according to animal nutrient requirements. The results showed that supplementation of HT has no influence (p > 0.05) on the nutrient intake, milk yield and milk composition when compared to the control group. In addition, the increased levels of HT caused quadratic increases in fat:protein at pre-treatment and treatment periods (p < 0.05; p = 0.06, respectively), while differential somatic cell count (DSCC) at treatment and post-treatment periods showed a quadratic decrease (p < 0.05; p < 0.05, respectively), with supplementation of HT product containing 6.30 g HT/day (p < 0.05) being the lowest. Therefore, it can be concluded that supplementation with HT product does not affect nutrient intake, milk yield, however, it could reduce DSCC and probably improve udder health in on-farm dairy cows. HIGHLIGHTS A quantitative performance comparison of Radio over Free Space Optical links WDM increases the capacity while the MIMO links help to maintain the transmission range A combination of WDM and MIMO RoFSO links is identified to be the best