Effect of feeding mixed microbial culture fortified with trace minerals on ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen and trace mineral balance in Sheep

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of the present study was to determine the effects of feeding trace mineralsfortified mixed microbial culture (TMC) on ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, blood electrolyte status, nitrogen balance, and trace mineral balance in sheep.MethodsMixed microbes [0.6 % (v/w) of Enterobacter sp., Bacillus sp., Lactobacillus sp., and Saccharomyces sp.] were cultured with 99 % feedstuffs and 0.4 % trace minerals including zinc and copper for ensiling. Six sheep (a mean body weight of 46.5 ± 1.2 kg) were fed two diets: a control diet (concentrate mix and rye straw) and an experimental diet (a control diet + 3.1 % TMC).ResultsTMC feeding did not induce negative effects on ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, blood electrolytes, and nitrogen balance in sheep. Feeding with TMC increased the intake of trace minerals (p < 0.05) and did not affect absorption of trace minerals in the whole digestive tract. Feeding with TMC increased fecal excretion and absorbable intake, and retention of zinc and copper (p < 0.05) by 71 % and 77 %, respectively.ConclusionFeeding with TMC resulted in higher zinc and copper bioavailability and retention without any adverse effects on sheep performance.

Studies on Digestion Coefficients and Rumen Fermentation of some Improved Rations by Males of Sinai Sheep and Goats

“…Salama et al (2003) showed that Zn supplementation increased digestibility of DM and OM of goats. However, Kwak et al (2016) and Pino and Heinrichs (2016) found that the digestion coefficients of DM, OM, CP, EE, CF and NFE% were not affected by additives of trace minerals. The obtained data showed that TDN values were significantly increased with mineral additives of the goat in both experiments.…”

“…The NH3-N values were significantly higher at 2 h and 4 h than 0 h in sheep and goats. Qi et al (1992), Fathul and Wajizah (2010) and Kwak et al (2016) found that mineral additives did not affect ruminal NH 3 -N. However, Xun et al (2012) found that ruminal ammonia N was significantly decreased with Se supplementation. In this study, the increasing in NH 3 -N in the experiment 2 than the experiment 1 may be due to the high percent of protein in alfalfa consumed by animals in the experiment 2.…”

“…Xun et al (2012) found that, ammonia-N concentration was significantly decreased with Se supplementation to sheep rations. However, Kwak et al (2016) found that rumen ammonia-N was not affected with supplementation of trace minerals mixture. Deng et al (2013) found that the total of rumen volatile fatty acids of goats was significantly increased by feeding with mixture of Sodium, Zinc and Manganese than without additives at 2 and 4 h post feeding, however the differences at 0, 6, 8 and 10 h were not significant.…”

“…Xun et al (2012) found that total volatile fatty acids concentration was significantly increased with Se supplementation to sheep rations containing alfalfa hay. Shi et al (2011) noticed that total volatile fatty acids concentration was higher in rumen of sheep fed the diet supplemented with 0.3 mg Se/kg DM, however Engle and Spears (2000), Spears et al (2004), Fathul and Wajizah (2010) and Kwak et al (2016) noticed that total volatile fatty acids concentration was not affected in the rumen with minerals additives.…”

“…Some studies noticed that trace minerals additives improved digestibility (Salama et al, 2003;Fathul and Wajizah, 2010;Xun et al, 2012;Abd El-Hafez et al, 2016;Ibrahim, 2017). However, Kwak et al (2016) and Pino and Heinrichs (2016) found that, digestibility was not affected by mineral additives. On the other hand, some studies explained that some rumen parameters may be affected by mineral additives.…”