Effects of Gelidium amansii extracts on in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics, methanogenesis, and microbial populations

Abstract

ObjectiveGelidium amansii (Lamouroux) is a red alga belonging to the family Gelidaceae and is commonly found in the shallow coasts of many East Asian countries, including Korea, China, and Japan. G. amansii has traditionally been utilized as an edible alga, and has various biological activities. The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary supplementation of G. amansii could be useful for improving ruminal fermentation.MethodsAs assessed by in vitro fermentation parameters such as pH, total gas, volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, gas profile (methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and ammonia), and microbial growth rate was compared to a basal diet with timothy hay. Cannulated Holstein cows were used as rumen fluid donors and 15 mL rumen fluid: buffer (1:2) was incubated for up to 72 h with four treatments with three replicates. The treatments were: control (timothy only), basal diet with 1% G. amansii extract, basal diet with 3% G. amansii extract, and basal diet with 5% G. amansii extract.ResultsOverall, the results of our study indicate that G. amansii supplementation is potentially useful for improving ruminant growth performance, via increased total gas and VFA production, but does come with some undesirable effects, such as increasing pH, ammonia concentration, and methane production. In particular, real-time polymerase chain reaction indicated that the methanogenic archaea and Fibrobacter succinogenes populations were significantly reduced, while the Ruminococcus flavefaciens populations were significantly increased at 24 h, when supplemented with G. amansii extracts as compared with controls.ConclusionMore research is required to elucidate what G. amansii supplementation can do to improve growth performance, and its effect on methane production in ruminants.

Withdrawn: Study of the influence of exogenous fibrolytic enzyme additive on chemical composition, fermentation characteristics, and nutritional value of brewer’s spent grain

“…with EFE. VFA are the principal source of energy in ruminants and they reflect the metabolic activity in the rumen (Lee et al, 2018). In this study, EFE1 at medium dose increases the production of volatile fatty acids by 21%.…”

Effects of short-term fasting on in vivo rumen microbiota and in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics

“…This concern is particularly important when comprehensive approaches, such as meta-analyses, are used for in vitro gas production and/or digestibility studies. Indeed, a recent meta-analysis of in vitro techniques indicated issues with these techniques for measuring gas and methane production and suggested “greater harmonization of analytical procedure” to improve our understanding of the results [28,29]. A previous study by Johnson [1] indicated the importance of the rumen inoculum from animals offered different forages when examining forage digestion in vitro , and more recently, excellent reviews have highlighted the critical requirements for in vitro studies [3].…”

Impact of Ecklonia stolonifera extract on in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics, methanogenesis, and microbial populations

“…Moreover, E. stolonifera contains polyphenolic compounds that have been suggested to deter the grazing and growth of the seaweed’s predators [7]. However, a few studies reported that algae have potential effect on rumen fermentation characteristics and methane reduction [8,9]. Identification of feed additives that can modify the rumen microbial system to manipulate ruminal fermentation characteristics and increase the efficiency of feed utilization is an effective strategy for inhibiting ruminal methanogenesis for reducing methane emissions without an adverse effect on rumen function.…”