Search Results (129)

Sweet sorghum is an annual warm-season energy crop that produces high biomass, is broadly adaptable, and is tolerant of abiotic stress. This study was conducted as a two-year field experiment to determine the effects of different harvest stages (booting, 50% flowering, milk, and soft dough) on theoretical bioethanol production and bagasse feed quality in sweet sorghum varieties (Erdurmus, Gulseker, and Uzun) in the semi-humid Mediterranean transition zone. Field experiments were conducted in 2023 and 2024 using a randomized block split-plot design with three replications. In the study, characteristics such as fresh stem yield, Brix, juice yield, theoretical juice ethanol yield, dry bagasse yield, cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose, theoretical lignocellulosic ethanol yield, total theoretical ethanol yield, and bagasse feed quality (crude protein, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and relative feed value) were examined. According to the two-year average results, the theoretical juice ethanol yields, theoretical lignocellulosic ethanol yields, total theoretical ethanol yields, and dry bagasse yields ranged from 454.8 to 2023.9 L ha⁻¹, 2472 to 3828 L ha⁻¹, 3320 to 5180 L ha⁻¹, and 7.85 to 11.67 t ha⁻¹, respectively, in terms of the variety x harvest stage interaction. Significant differences emerged among the examined parameters across varieties. In this respect, the Erdurmus and Gulseker varieties stand out as suitable for dual use, both for bioethanol production and for bagasse utilization as animal feed. The effects of harvest stages on all examined characteristics were statistically significant. It is recommended that sweet sorghum be harvested at the latest during the milk stage to utilize the juice for bioethanol production and to evaluate the remaining bagasse as animal feed. Full article

Rice straw, one of the most abundant agricultural residues worldwide, remains significantly underutilized as a ruminant feed source owing to its intrinsic lignocellulosic recalcitrance. This study investigated the effects of co-extruding rice straw with varying proportions of corn flour on nutritional composition and in vitro digestibility for ruminant nutrition. Extrusion was conducted using a twin-screw extruder at 180 °C barrel temperature, 5 MPa pressure, and 50% feed moisture content. Five corn levels were formulated on a dry matter basis: pure rice straw (RS100); three blends with increasing corn flour inclusion: RS75:C25 (75% straw + 25% corn flour), RS67:C33 (67% straw + 33% corn flour), and RS60:C40 (60% straw + 40% corn flour); and pure corn flour (C100) as a control. Chemical composition including neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), cellulose, hemicellulose, water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), and starch was analyzed. In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) was determined using a pepsin-cellulase assay. Regression analysis within the practical 0–40% corn flour inclusion range revealed a significant quadratic relationship with IVDMD (R² = 0.999, p < 0.001). The optimal corn flour proportion was calculated to be approximately 37.5%, which closely matched the RS60:C40 formulation (40% corn flour). Among the tested formulations, RS60:C40 exhibited the greatest extrusion-induced nutritional improvements. Relative to its pre-extrusion values, cellulose decreased by 55.7% (p < 0.05), followed by ADF (16.1%), NDF (12.8%), and hemicellulose (10.2%); IVDMD increased by 34.2% (p < 0.01) and WSC by 56.7% (p < 0.05). Compared with RS100 after extrusion, RS60:C40 raised IVDMD by 49.5% and lowered cellulose by 60.6%. Its IVDMD also surpassed those of RS75:C25 and RS67:C33 (p < 0.05), whereas RS75:C25 showed only marginal improvements. ADL content showed no extrusion-induced change (p > 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the RS60:C40 formulation revealed that, unlike the intact fibrous structures observed prior to extrusion, post-extrusion samples exhibited extensive disruption of the fibrous matrix. Pearson correlation analysis further supported these findings, showing strong positive correlations between IVDMD and WSC (r = 0.96, p < 0.001) and strong negative correlations between IVDMD and NDF (r = −0.95, p < 0.001). In conclusion, extrusion generally increased IVDMD and WSC while reducing fiber fractions, with the effect depending on corn level. Co-extrusion with 40% corn flour effectively enhanced the nutritional value of rice straw, offering a viable strategy for producing a more digestible ruminant feed. Full article

The efficiency of anaerobic digestion (AD) of lignocellulosic biomass is strongly determined by biomass yield, chemical composition, and bioavailability, all of which undergo substantial seasonal variation. However, integrated analyses linking these factors with AD performance, process kinetics, and energy-economic efficiency remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of seasonal variability in the chemical composition of Helianthus annuus biomass on AD efficiency from a technological and economic perspective. The novelty of this study lies in integrating seasonal changes in biomass composition with AD kinetics, CH₄ productivity per hectare, and CHP techno-economic performance to identify the optimal harvest window for Helianthus annuus. The experiments were conducted using biomass harvested from June to December. The results showed significant (p < 0.05) variability in biomass properties, including a progressive increase in lignocellulosic fractions over the growing season, with neutral detergent fiber (NDF) increasing from 30.58 ± 1.8 to 66.58 ± 3.1% TS and acid detergent lignin (ADL) from 5.13 ± 0.5 to 10.35 ± 0.9% TS, accompanied by a decline in substrate bioavailability. The maximum CH₄ yield of 258 ± 13 mL/g VS was obtained in August, with a process rate of 29.0 ± 3.4 mL/g VS·d and the highest utilization of methane potential, reaching 62.5 ± 3.8% (BMP_CH4/TBMP). Correlation and regression analyses indicated that ADL and NDF were the strongest empirical predictors of AD performance within the analyzed dataset, showing a negative association with both CH₄ production yield and kinetics (R² up to 0.86), whereas reducing sugars had a stimulatory effect. Multiple regression models showed high predictive performance, with R² = 0.889 for BMP_CH4. The highest energy and economic efficiency was achieved in summer. In August, CH₄ production reached 3214 ± 596 m³/ha, corresponding to 11.2 ± 2.1 MWh/ha of electricity and a net result of 1559 ± 417 EUR/ha. Increased lignification in the later part of the season led to reduced process efficiency and a deterioration of the economic balance. From a practical perspective, these results demonstrate that harvest scheduling should be based on the trade-off between biomass quantity and biodegradability rather than on biomass yield alone. Full article

Cottonseed hull is an abundant and low-cost cotton processing byproduct, but its feed application is severely limited by free gossypol. This study screened a gossypol-degrading fungal strain from naturally fermented cottonseed hulls and soy sauce koji, and evaluated its detoxification and feed improvement effects via solid-state fermentation. Strain TM-2 was identified as Aspergillus oryzae. It degraded over 60% of gossypol in liquid fermentation and 69.54% in cottonseed hull solid-state fermentation. Genome annotation revealed 409 CAZyme genes and key pathways for naphthalene and aromatic compound degradation. After fermentation, crude protein and acid-soluble protein were significantly increased, while cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber were notably reduced. Antioxidant activity was also greatly enhanced. Secretomic analysis identified 92 extracellular proteins, including hemicellulases, cellulases, proteases, and peptidases that jointly promoted detoxification and quality improvement. A. oryzae TM-2 efficiently degrades gossypol and improves feed quality, showing high value in fermented feed development and agricultural byproduct utilization. Full article

Current National Research Council equine protein requirements are based on feedstuff crude protein (CP) content; however, protein distribution in feedstuff cell contents and cell wall affects foregut protein digestion. Neutral detergent soluble crude protein (NDSCP) is the readily digestible protein fraction available to meet equine protein requirements. Updated models of equine nutrient requirements use NDSCP to quantify pre-cecal digestible crude protein (pcdCP) to determine if protein requirements are met. Thus, our study sought to develop linear regression models to predict NDSCP and pcdCP using feedstuff CP and fiber. Data were collected from the 2023 cumulative Dairy One© Feedstuff Composition Library (Ithaca, NY, USA; accessed 2 February 2024). Feedstuffs were selected when n ≥ 50 within each nutrient analysis used for model development [CP, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin]. Feedstuffs were categorized into four groups: forages, grains, grain byproducts, oilseeds and meals. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression in R Statistical Program© (v4.5.1). Predictor variables were selected using Pearson’s correlation with models ranked using Akaike’s information criterion (AICc), AICc weights (AICcWt), and Adjusted R². Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. The model using CP+NDF was the highest-ranked model for both NDSCP (AICcWt = 0.95; Adjusted R² = 0.9868) and pcdCP (AICcWt = 0.95; Adjusted R² = 0.9867). Overall, NDSCP and pcdCP were predicted with high precision using CP and NDF; both have previously predicted CP digestibility. Overall, incorporating CP and fiber fractionation in linear models improves prediction of estimated dietary available protein. Full article

Dactylis glomerata, a perennial forage grass widely distributed in Mediterranean areas, is recognized for its adaptability and nutritional quality. This study aimed to assess the chemical composition and fiber components of ten natural populations of Dactylis glomerata in order to characterize genetic variability in nutritional and fiber traits among populations. Seeds of all populations were established in a randomized complete block design with four replicates and cultivated for two consecutive years. Forage was collected at the boot stage, and analyses were conducted for crude protein, ash, crude fiber, neutral and acid detergent fibers, acid detergent lignin, hemicellulose, cellulose, digestible dry matter, dry matter intake, and relative feed value. Combined ANOVA indicated that genotypic effects were highly significant for all traits (p ≤ 0.001), with additional significant contributions from environmental and genotype × environment interactions. Crude protein ranged from 11.74% to 14.98%, neutral detergent fiber from 56.31% to 58.43%, and relative feed value from 100.1 to 106.4 among populations. Stability index analysis identified Kefalopotamos and Filyra as the most environmentally stable populations, whereas Kori and Xyloparoiko exhibited relatively higher values in selected forage quality traits. Broad-sense heritability values were high for the majority of traits (H² between 93.3% and 99.9%, except for hemicellulose), suggesting a strong genetic influence. Correlation analysis also revealed inverse relationships between protein content and fiber fractions and positive relationships with digestibility-related indices. Multivariate analyses revealed a clear separation between nutritional quality traits and structural fiber components, indicating consistent differentiation among populations. Overall, these results highlight the potential of local Dactylis glomerata populations as genetic resources for further evaluation in breeding and conservation programs under Mediterranean conditions. Full article

Nutritional strategies for reducing greenhouse gases that negatively impact climate change have been investigated in recent years. Secondary compounds such as tannins are found in tree legumes, which have forage potential and the ability to reduce enteric methane emissions. The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect of forage legumes as a tannin source on enteric methane mitigation and rumen fermentation. The species studied were Acacia dealbata, Acacia melanoxylon, Albizzia lophantha, Lupinus pubescens, Inga insignis, Senna multiglandulosa, and Tecoma stans. The range of crude protein content in all species was variable. The neutral detergent fiber content was much higher in I. insignes, while S. multiglandulosa and L. pubescens had a lower content of acid detergent fiber and lignin detergent acid. I. insignes presented a statistically different lower gas production when compared with the other species subjected to in vitro fermentation. The species that presented the greatest potential for the reduction in enteric methane produced were I. insignes and A. melanoxylon. Additionally, a significant variation was evidenced in the pH of the inocula at 24 h of fermentation in a range of 6.82–7.25. S. multiglandulosa presented concentrations for acetate, propionate, and butyrate that differed significantly compared to the other species. Similarly, the highest concentration of NH₃-N was for S. multiglandulosa. However, the highest EDDM_4% and IVDDM were for I. insignes with 381.28 and 791.46 g/kg, respectively. it can be concluded that forages (e.g., I. insignes) with a higher content of condensed tannins favor rumen digestion and fermentation, probably increasing microbial protein synthesis and thereby reducing ruminal gas and methane production. Full article

The objective of this study was to assess the contribution of oat (Avena sativa L.) and common vetch (Vicia sativa) hay supplementation as a forage-based strategy to improve the environmental and productive performance of grazing systems in the high Andean zone through its effects on enteric methane (CH₄) emissions and live weight gain. Twenty heifers grazed native grasses, and only half of the group received the supplement. The experiment was conducted as a crossover design. Methane emissions were quantified through sulfur hexafluoride methodology. Native pastures were characterized by low protein content, while lignin was lower in the oat hay plus common vetch hay than in the native grass mixture. On average, heifers consumed 7 kg dry matter per day (p ≥ 0.05) and ingested 24% more crude protein when supplemented (p = 0.0001). Digestible and metabolizable energy intakes were also significantly higher in supplemented animals (p ≤ 0.05). Live weight change was positive for supplemented animals (245 g/d). Net CH₄ production ranged from 179.6 to 196.3 g/d (p = 0.183). However, when CH₄ emissions were expressed relative to crude protein or acid detergent lignin intake, supplemented diets were found to emit less than native grass-based diets (p ≤ 0.05). These results suggest that supplementation with oat hay plus vetch is a feeding alternative for heifers during the dry season in the Peruvian Andean region to increase animal productivity without affecting CH₄ emissions. Full article

Corn dust is an abundant agro-industrial by-product with potential as an alternative energy source. Its use in animal feeding, however, is restricted by high fiber content and low digestibility. This study evaluated the effects of non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) enzymes and yeast (Candida tropicalis KKU20) on the chemical composition, fermentation characteristics, and microbial populations of fermented corn dust. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design with a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement plus an additional control treatment. Factor A consisted of three levels of enzyme supplementation (0.02%, 0.04%, and 0.06% of dry matter), and Factor B consisted of yeast supplementation (without yeast or with C. tropicalis KKU20, approximately 1 × 10¹³ cells/g of inoculum). The control treatment consisted of fermented corn dust without enzyme or yeast supplementation. Samples were fermented for 15 days prior to analysis. Yeast inoculation increased crude protein and non-fiber carbohydrate contents while reducing neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and acid detergent lignin (p < 0.05). Significant enzyme × yeast interactions were observed for several components, particularly fiber fractions (p < 0.05). The reduction in fiber was more pronounced when enzymes were combined with yeast. Predicted energy values, including metabolizable and digestible energy, were increased following yeast supplementation (p < 0.05). Fermentation characteristics were mainly affected by yeast. Yeast-treated samples exhibited higher pH and ammonia–nitrogen concentrations, indicating increased nitrogen turnover during fermentation. In contrast, lactic and propionic acid concentrations were higher in treatments without yeast, while yeast inoculation was associated with lower acetic acid and slightly higher butyric acid levels. Microbial analysis indicated interactions between treatments for lactic acid bacteria populations, reflecting competition for available substrates. No coliform bacteria were detected, indicating acceptable hygienic quality. Overall, yeast inoculation modified the chemical composition of corn dust, particularly by increasing crude protein and reducing fiber fractions, while NSP enzymes contributed to fiber degradation, especially when combined with yeast. However, these changes reflect compositional modification rather than confirmed feeding value, and further evaluation under rumen or in vivo conditions is required. Full article

In this study, 72 genetically diverse accessions of Psathyrostachys juncea from a germplasm collection were evaluated for silicon content, biochemical composition and nutritional value in pasture biomass for grazing feed in Northern Kazakhstan in 2024 and 2025. High-quality biomass and low silicon are the most important traits for P. juncea pasture. In the studied germplasm collection, the average silicon content in leaves was 2.59%, ranging from 1.45% to 4.11%. All studied accessions of P. juncea were split into two clusters based on biochemical analyses. Cluster B with preferable genotypes had significantly lower silicon content, crude fibre, neutral detergent fibre and hemicellulose, but higher crude protein content compared to cluster A. The six best genotypes with close to or less than 2% silicon and with high nutritional value in pasture biomass content were selected from cluster B for hybridization and further breeding. Low silicon content in leaves was confirmed in most of the hybrids, similar to parents and significantly less than other genotypes in the germplasm collection. Strong negative heterosis values were identified in all hybrids for acid detergent fibre and lignin, showing a reduction in undesired traits for biomass pasture quality. A strong negative correlation was found between the content of crude protein and fibre (r = −0.71), whereas neutral and acid detergent fibre content had a strong positive correlation (r = 0.78). The most promising hybrids with the combined traits of low silicon accumulation and high-quality pasture biomass were selected for further breeding and production of new perspective cultivars of P. juncea for pastures with perennial forage plant species. Full article

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a major forage legume worldwide. Developing multifoliolate germplasm has been explored as a strategy to improve forage nutritive value and support more efficient forage livestock production. Here, we developed a multifoliolate population, SJ-ML, using CRISPR/Cas9-generated palmate-like pentafoliate mutants as donor parents. Molecular and phenotypic analyses indicated a stable inheritance of the edited alleles and the multifoliolate trait in SJ-ML. SJ-ML was evaluated under solar greenhouse and field conditions, with the recipient cultivar ‘Aohan’ as the greenhouse control and the commercial cultivars ‘Galaxie-Max’ and ‘GN5’ as field controls. SJ-ML showed a greater leaf area and a higher leaf-to-stem ratio, without reductions in yield or plant height. Nutritive analyses indicated that SJ-ML had a higher crude protein content, relative feed value, digestible dry matter, and dry matter intake, while acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and lignin were lower than those of the controls. Across regrowth stages, SJ-ML generally maintained a higher nutritive value than controls. These results support SJ-ML as a multifoliolate germplasm resource for improving nutritive value without a trade-off in agronomic traits, with potential relevance for sustainable agriculture through enhanced forage protein value and a reduced reliance on supplemental protein in some ration contexts. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of increasing proportions of sudangrass sorghum forage in ruminant diets, with or without polyethylene glycol (PEG), on rumen fermentation, gas and methane production, nutrient digestibility, and protein fermentation metabolites. Three experimental diets containing 20%, 40%, or 60% sorghum forage (S20, S40, and S60) were incubated in vitro with cattle rumen fluid. Incubations were performed with or without PEG used as a tannin-binding agent. After 24 h of incubation, gas and methane production, in vitro dry matter digestibility (DMD), neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD), ammonia nitrogen concentration (N-NH₃), and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and profiles were measured. Increasing sorghum inclusion resulted in a significant reduction in DMD (p = 0.0012). In contrast, NDFD increased (p = 0.0005), likely due to differences in lignin content among diets. Methane production was unaffected by the proportion of sorghum, despite the increasing tannin content. PEG supplementation significantly increased N-NH₃ concentration (p = 0.042) and isobutyric molar proportion (p < 0.0001), indicating enhanced rumen protein degradation following tannin neutralization. The total VFA concentration was not influenced by either sorghum level or PEG treatment. However, higher sorghum inclusion was associated with shifts in the VFA profiles toward higher acetate (p = 0.0023) and lower butyrate proportions (p = 0.0114). Overall, the results suggest that moderate levels of condensed tannins (CTs) in sorghum forage may alter rumen fermentation patterns without markedly reducing methane production. PEG supplementation further confirmed the biological activity of tannins, especially regarding protein metabolism. Therefore, sudangrass sorghum may be considered a viable forage option for ruminant diets, provided its inclusion level and tannin effects are carefully managed. Full article

Cenchrus fungigraminus (Juncao) is a high-yielding, fast-growing forage crop with considerable potential for livestock feed; however, optimizing its processing is essential for cost reduction and quality enhancement. This study comprised three components: (1) a comprehensive analysis of 25 on-farm silage samples from five locations in Southwest China using Grey Relational Analysis (GRA); (2) an assessment of the effects of three cutting heights (low: 100–150 cm; mid: 150–200 cm; high: 200–250 cm) on silage quality; and (3) a comparison of silage quality between natural fermentation and microbial inoculant treatments using mature Juncao (250–300 cm). The results showed that: (1) in the on-farm silage samples, carbon supplementation was significantly positively correlated with total digestible nutrients (TDN), relative feed value (RFV), ether extract (EE), and sensory evaluation (p < 0.05), and the GRA identified the top-ranked treatments, including J2, J3, J6, X6, and J5; (2) in the cutting height trials, fiber content increased significantly with cutting height (p < 0.05), while crude protein (CP) and TDN decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The 200–250 cm group exhibited optimal fermentation quality, characterized by the highest total volatile fatty acids (total VFA) and lactic acid concentrations, alongside the lowest pH and ammonia nitrogen/total nitrogen ratios (NH₃-N/TN); (3) in the inoculant comparison, the natural fermentation group demonstrated significantly higher degradation rates of acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL) compared to the microbial inoculant group, while also maintaining a lower pH, higher total VFA and lactic acid. Consequently, for on-farm production, carbon supplementation is recommended to improve silage quality. Although cutting Juncao below 200 cm provides higher nutritional value, a height of 200–250 cm is advised to ensure optimal fermentation characteristics. Furthermore, natural fermentation proves superior to microbial inoculant treatment for mature Juncao. Together, these measures offer an effective strategy for producing high-quality Juncao silage. Full article

Ensuring high-quality forage under Mediterranean conditions requires careful evaluation of genetic resources. Two perennial forage species, cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), were evaluated to determine the stability and broad-sense heritability of major forage quality traits across Greek environments. The objective was to identify stable, heritable traits contributing to consistent forage quality under climatic variability. Measured traits included crude protein (CP%), crude fiber (CF%), ash, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), cellulose, hemicellulose, acid detergent lignin (ADL), digestible dry matter (DDM%), dry matter intake (DMI%), and relative feed value (RFV). Significant genotype × environment (G × E) interactions were observed for most traits, highlighting the importance of multi-environment testing, except for RFV in cocksfoot, which was non-significant. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) helped clarify how these traits covary across environments. The traits Crude Protein, Ash Content, and ADL (on PC1) are largely independent of the traits Cellulose and Hemicellulose (on PC2) in the case of cocksfoot. The pattern of loadings in the case of Tall fescue revealed that hemicellulose represents a completely separate dimension of variation, which is uncorrelated to the rest of the traits that form a unified, highly correlated group. In both cases, the first two PCs explained over 82% of the total variance, separating genotypes and environments. By integrating stability (SI) and heritability (H²) results, Cock2D and T2fes were identified as the most stable and high-performing genotypes across environments. These findings could support breeding strategies for developing resilient forage cultivars with consistent quality and adaptability to Mediterranean environments, thereby enhancing sustainable livestock production. Full article

(1) Background: In arid regions, limited forage availability increases feeding costs for small ruminants. Sunflower hulls (SFH), a low-cost agro-industrial by-product, may serve as an alternative fiber source, yet their effects on pregnant Naemi ewes remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate how graded levels of SFH affect intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation, and metabolic responses during gestation and early lactation. (2) Methods: Eighty-four ewes were assigned to diets containing 0%, 12%, 20%, or 28% SFH in a total mixed ration and monitored across early gestation, late gestation, and lactation. (3) Results: Increasing SFH significantly increased dry matter intake, with the highest intake in the 28% SFH group (p < 0.05). Body weight remained unaffected, whereas body condition score varied by physiological stage. Digestibility of major nutrients was unchanged; however, acid detergent lignin digestibility increased at 28% SFH (p < 0.05). Higher SFH levels (20–28%) reduced total volatile fatty acids by approximately 12–18% and lowered acetate and propionate concentrations, especially in late gestation. Blood metabolites differed among treatments but remained within physiological reference ranges, confirming metabolic safety. (4) Conclusions: SFH can be safely included at up to 28% of diet dry matter; however, 12–20% SFH appears most practical, supporting adequate fiber intake without compromising rumen fermentation efficiency. This provides a cost-effective strategy for ewe feeding under forage-limited arid conditions. Full article