Investigating Nutritional Value of Bassia scoparia Seed in vitro for Ruminants Nutrition in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions

پژوهشهای علوم دامی ایران

Article 4, Volume 14, Issue 3 - Serial Number 51, September 2022, Pages 345-357   

Document Type: Research Articles

DOI: 10.22067/ijasr.2021.70411.1025

Authors

Mohsen Sari^{* 1}; Yaser Monjezi¹; Jafar Nabati²

¹Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Technology, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Ahvaz, Iran

²Legume Department, Research Center for Plant Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Halophytes are plants with ability to survive in saline and alkaline soils and are drought resistant. In many areas of the world, native and introduced halophytes are forage resources, especially for sustaining grazing livestock when other feeds are scarce. Iran is a typical country of wide deserts and saline ecosystems and halophytes plays a major role in the halophytic and xerophytic vegetation of Iran. kochia is a drought-resistant annual plant that its cultivation is increasing in Iran. Due to the possibility of irrigating this plant with saline water, it can play an important role in providing the required feed to livestock in areas with saline soil and water by producing significant grains with high protein content. The aim of this study was to investigate effect of different levels of kochia seed in high concentrate diets on rumen fermentation.
Materials and Methods: Dietary treatments included control diet (no kochia seed) and three diets levels containing 10, 20 and 30 % of ration DM kochia seed. In all treatments, soybean meal and wheat bran in the diet were substituted with kochia seed. Gas production and dual-flow continuous culture system were used in this study. In the gas production test, treatments arranged as complete randomized design. The amount of gas produced in the samples was recorded at different hours after incubation and the parameters of gas production, organic matter digestibility and metabolic energy were calculated. In the second experiment, eight dual-flow continuous culture fermenters (1320 ml) were used in two periods (7 days adaptation, 3 days sampling). In each period, fermenters were randomly assigned to treatments. Temperature (38.5°C) and liquid and (10%/h) solid (5%/h) dilution rates were kept constant in the fermenters. Anaerobic conditions were maintained by the infusion of N2 at a rate of 40ml/min. Treatments were randomly assigned to fermenters. Fermenters were fed daily with 97 g dry matter. During sampling days, collection vessels were maintained at 4ºC to impede microbial action. Solid and liquid effluents were mixed and homogenized for 1 min, and a 500ml sample was removed via aspiration. Upon completion of each period, effluent from the 3 days of sampling was composited and mixed within fermenter and homogenized for 1 min. Subsamples were taken for total N, ammonia-N, and VFA analyses. Data were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS. Fermenter and period were considered random effects. Comparisons between treatments were completed with Tukey’s test. Effects were considered significant at P<0.05.
Results and Discussion: Inclusion of kochia seed in the diet increased gas production potential and amount of produced gas compared to the control diet. Increasing levels of kochia seed in the diet linearly increased metabolizable energy, organic matter digestibility and short chain fatty acid production. Low lignin content and high hemicellulose digestibility could be the main reasons behind higher metabolizable energy and organic matter digestibility observed in kochia containing diets. The observed increase in gas production potential as well as the volume of produced gas in kochia seed containing diets also supports that this feedstuff does not contain antinutritional factors with antimicrobial properties or the amount of these compounds in the grain is not significant. In the dual flow continuous culture study, dry matter digestibility linearly increased with increasing levels of kochia seed in the diet. Organic matter digestibility tended to increase using kochia seed in the diet (P =0.08). An increase in protein digestibility observed in treatments containing 20 and 30 % kochia seed compared to other treatments. Total VFA concentration increased linearly in diets containing kochia seed (P = 0.01). This finding could be the result of higher organic matter digestibility in kochia seed containing diets. Also, it has been suggested that higher rumen fiber digestibility or partial replacement of starch with a digestible cell wall can increase the total VFA concentration by increasing the population of fiber-degrading bacteria, a mechanism that is especially important in high-concentrate diets. Average ammonia nitrogen concentration, the concentration before feeding and 2 hours after feeding decreased in kochia containing diets compared to control diet. Despite the increase in crude protein digestibility in diets containing 20 and 30% kochia seed, the average ammonia nitrogen concentration in these treatments was lower compared to the control treatment. This finding can be the result of higher use of ammonia nitrogen in these treatments. The higher digestibility of dry matter and the tendency to increase the digestibility of organic matter by increasing level of kochia seed in the diet could support this idea.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that using kochia seed in the diet up to 30% of ration dry matter could support optimal rumen fermentation. Due to the low water requirement and the ability of kochia plant to grow in saline soils on the one hand and the desirable energy and protein content of kochia seeds on the other hand, this grain can be used as a suitable option to meet part of the feed needed for ruminants in saline areas. Limited information is available and more in vivo research is needed in this area.

Keywords

Fermentation Characteristics; Halophytes; High concentrate diet; Kochia seed; Nutritional value

References

1. AOAC. (1990). Official Methods of Analysis. 15^th Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Arlington, VA.
2. Basra, A. S., & Basra, R. K. (1997). Mechanisms of environmental stress resistance in plants. Harwood Academic Publishers.
3. Blummel, M., Steingss, H., & Becker, K. (1997). The relationship between in vitro gas production, in vitro microbial biomass yield and 15N incorporation and its implications for the prediction of voluntary feed intake of roughages. British Journal of Nutrition, 77, 911–921. https://doi.org/1016/S0377-8401(97)81628-8.
4. Broderik, G. A., & Kang, J. H. (1980). Automated simultaneous determination of ammonia and total amino acids in ruminal fluid and in vitro Journal of Dairy Science, 63, 64-75. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(80)82888-8.
5. Coxworth, E., Bell, J., & Ashford, R. (1969). Preliminary evaluations of Russian thistle, kochia, and garden atriplex as potential high protein content seed crops for semiarid areas. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 49, 427-434. https://doi.org/4141/cjps69-071.
6. Danesh Mesgaran, M., & Stern, M. D. (2005). Ruminal and post-ruminal protein disappearance of various feeds originating from Iranian plant varieties determined by the in situ mobile bag technique and alternative methods. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 118, 31–46. https://doi.org/1016/j.anifeedsci.2004.10.009.
7. Dickie, C. W., & James, L. F. (1983). Kochia scoparia poisoning in cattle. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 183, 765-768.
8. Friesen, L. F., Beckie, H. J., Warwick, S. I., & Van Acker, R. C. (2009). The biology of Canadian weeds. 138. Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 89, 141-167. https://doi.org/4141/CJPS08057.
9. Galitzer, S. J., & Oehme, F. W. (1978). Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. toxicity in cattle: A literature review. Veterinary and Human Toxicology, 20, 421-423.
10. Getachew, G., Makkar, H. P., & Becker, K. (2000). Effect of polyethylene glycol on in vitro degradability of nitrogen and microbial protein synthesis from tannin-rich browse and herbaceous legumes. British Journal of Nutrition, 84, 73–83. https://doi.org/1017/S0007114500001252.
11. He, Y., Cone, J. W., Hendriks, W. H., & Dijkstra, J. (2020). Relationships between chemical composition and in vitro gas production parameters of maize leaves and stems. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 104, 12–21. https://doi.org/1111/jpn.13221.
12. Hoover, W. H., & Stokes, S. R. (1991). Balancing carbohydrates and proteins for optimumrumen microbial yield. Journal of Dairy Science, 74, 3630-3644. https://doi.org/3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78553-6.
13. Iraira, S. P., Ruiz De La Torre, J. L., Rodríguez-Prado, M., Calsamiglia, S., Manteca, X., & Ferret, A. (2013). Feed intake, ruminal fermentation, and animal behavior of beef heifers fed forage free diets containing nonforage fiber sources. Journal of Animal Science, 91(8), 3827-3835. https://doi.org/2527/jas.2012-5803.
14. Jami Al Ahmadi, M., & Kafi, M. (2008). Kochia (Kochia scoparia): To be or not to be? In: Crop and Forage Production Using Saline Waters. M. Kafi and M.A. Khan, eds. NAM S & T Centre. Daya Publisher, New Delhi.
15. Kafi, M., Asadi, H., & Ganjeali, A. (2010). Possible utilization of high salinity waters and application of low amounts of water for production of the halophyte Kochia scoparia as alternative fodder in saline agroecosystems. Agricultural Water Management, 97, 139-147. https://doi.org/1016/j.agwat.2009.08.022.
16. Kirkpatrick, J. G., Helman, R. G., Burrows, G. E., Von Tungeln, , Lehenbauer, T., & Tyrl, R. J. (1999). Evaluation of hepatic changes and weight gains in sheep grazing Kochia scoparia. Veterinary and Human Toxicology, 41, 67-70.
17. Lechartier, C., & Peyraud, J. L. (2011). The effects of starch and rapidly degradable dry matter from concentrate on ruminal digestion in dairy cows fed corn silage-based diets with fixed forage proportion. Journal of Dairy Science, 94(5), 2440-2454. https://doi.org/3168/jds.2010-3285.
18. Lopez, S., Dijkstra, J., & France, J. (2000). Prediction of energy supply in ruminants, with emphasis on forages. In: Forage Evaluation in Ruminant Nutrition. D.I. Given, E. Owen, R.F.E. Axford and H.M. Omed, eds. CABI Publishing. Oxon, UK. pp. 63-94. https://doi.org/1079/9780851993447.0063.
19. Makkar, H. P. S. (2005). In vitro gas methods for evaluation of feeds containing phytochemicals. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 123, 291–302. https://doi.org/1016/j.anifeedsci.2005.06.003.
20. Menke, K. H., Raab, L., Salewski, A., Steingass, H., Fritz, D., & Schneider, W. (1979). The estimation of the digestibility and metabolizable energy content of ruminant feedstuffs from the gas production when they are incubated with rumen liquor in vitro. Journal of Agricultural Science, 92, 217–222. https://doi.org/1017/S0021859600086305.
21. Menke, K.H., & Steingass, H. (1988). Estimation of the energetic feed value obtained from chemical analysis and in vitro gas production using rumen fluid. Animal Researsh Development, 28, 6-55.
22. Nabati, J., Kafi, M., Nezami, A., Rezvani Moghaddam, P., Masoumi, A., & Zare Mehrjerdi, M. (2011). Investigation of possible production of oil and biomass in biosaline agriculture. Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research, 9(4), 615-622. (In Persian).
23. Oba, M. (2011). Effects of feeding sugars on productivity of lactating dairy cows. Canadian Journal of Animal Science, 91(1), 37-46. https://doi.org/4141/CJAS10069.
24. O'Connor, A., McGee, M., Moloney, A., Boland, T., & O'Kiely, P. (2019). Digestion and nitrogen metabolism in beef cattle and in vitro rumen fermentation of autumn grass differing in fertilizer nitrogen application rate. Grass and Forage Science, 74(3), 535-547. https://doi.org/1111/gfs.12420.
25. Ørskov, E. R., & McDonald, I. (1979). The estimation of protein degradability in the rumen from incubation measurements weighted according to rate of passage. The Journal of Agricultural Science. (Cambridge) 92: 499–503. https://doi.org/1017/S0021859600063048.
26. Qureshi, A. S., Qadir, M., Heydari, N., Turral, H., & Javadi, A. (2007). A review of management strategies for salt-prone land and water resources in Iran. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute. 30 p. (IWMI Working Paper 125).
27. Rankins, D. L., Smith, G. S., & Hallford, D. (1991b). Serum constituents and metabolic hormones in sheep and cattle fed Kochia scoparia Journal of Animal Science, 69, 2941-2946. https://doi.org/10.2527/1991.6972941x.
28. Rankins, D. L., Smith, G. S., & Hallford, D. (1991a). Altered metabolic hormones impaired nitrogen retention and hepatoxicosis in lambs fed Kochia scoparia Journal of Animal Science, 69, 2932-2940. https://doi.org/10.2527/1991.6972932x.
29. Rezvani Moghaddam, P., & Koocheki, A. (2004). History of research on salt-affected lands of Iran, Present status and future prospects: Halophytic ecosystems. 83-95. In: F.K. Taba, S. Ismail and A. Jaradat, eds.
30. Riasi, A., Danesh Mesgaran, M., Stern, M. D., & Ruiz Moreno, M.J. (2012). Effects of two halophytic plants (kochia and atriplex) on digestibility, fermentation and protein synthesis by Ruminal microbes maintained in continuous culture. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 5, 642–647. https://doi.org/5713/ajas.2011.11256.
31. Riasi, A., Danesh Mesgaran, M., Stern, M. D., & Ruiz Moreno, M. J. (2008). Chemical composition, in situ ruminal degradability and post-ruminal disappearance of dry matter and crude protein from the halophytic plants Kochia scoparia, Atriplex dimorphostegia, Suaeda arcuata and Gamanthus gamacarpus. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 141, 209-219. https://doi.org/1016/j.anifeedsci.2007.06.014.
32. Salehi, M., Kafi, M., & Kiani, A. (2009). Growth analysis of kochia (Kochia scoparia Schrad) irrigated with saline water in summer cropping. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 41, 1861-1870.
33. SAS (2009). SAS User’s Guide: Statistics. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC .
34. Satter, L. D., & Slyter, L. L. (1974). Effect of ammonia concentration on rumen microbial protein production in vitro. British Journal of Nutrition, 32, 199–208. https://doi.org/1079/bjn19740073.
35. Spanghero, M., Nikulina, A., & Mason, F. (2018). Use of an in vitro gas production procedure to evaluate rumen slow-release urea products. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 237: 19-26. https://doi.org/1016/j.anifeedsci.2017.12.017.
36. Stern, M. D., & Hoover, H. W. (1990). The dual flow continuous culture system. pp. 17–32 in Proc. ContinuousCulture Fermenters: Frustration or Fermentation. Northwest ADSA-ASAS Regional Meeting, Chazy, NY.
37. Sun, H. X., & Zhou, D.W. (2010). Effect of dietary supplement of seed of a halophyte (Suaeda glauca) on feed and water intake, diet digestibility, animal performance and serum biochemistry in lambs. Livestock Science, 128(1-3): 133-139. https://doi.org/1016/j.livsci.2009.11.012.
38. Sun, X. Q., Wang, Y. P., Wei, R.Y., Chen, B., & Zhao, X. (2020). Effects of replacing starch with three sugars in a concentrate and forage diet on in vitro rumen fermentation, fatty acid composition and related bacteria. Animal Production Science, 60(9), 1173-1182. https://doi.org/1071/AN18287.
39. Thilsted, J., & Hibbs, C. (1989). Kochia (Kochia scoparia) toxicosis in cattle: Results of four experimental grazing trials. Veterinary and Human Toxicology, 31, 34-41.
40. Tripathi, M. K., Chaturvedi, O. H., Karim, S. A., Singh, V. K., & Sisodiya, S. L. (2007). Effect of different levels of concentrate allowances on rumenfluid pH, nutrient digestion, nitrogen retention andgrowth performance of weaner lambs. Small Ruminant Research, 72, 178–186. https://doi.org/1016/j.smallrumres.2006.10.008.
41. Tukey, J. W. (1953). The problem of multiple comparison. Unpublished notes, Princeton Univ., Princeton, NJ. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1558730.
42. Van Soest, P. J. (1994). Nutritional Ecology of the Ruminant. 2 ed. Comstock Publ. Assoc., Ithaca, NY .
43. Whitney, H. M., Sayanova, O., Pickett, J. A., & Napier, J. A. (2004). Isolation and expression pattern of two putative acylACP desaturase cDNAs from Bassia scoparia. Journal of Experimental Botany, 55, 787-789. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erh072.
44. YANG, W. 2017. Factors Affecting Rumen Fermentation Using Batch Culture Technique. Fermentation Processes. InTech. 77-92.