Search Results (90)

In recent years, great attention has been paid to second-generation (from agricultural and industrial wastes) lactic acid (LA) production. In the present study, the possibility of two Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains, namely 53 and 2HS, to produce LA from waste materials was investigated. Distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), spent coffee grounds (SCG), wood chips, and cheese whey were used as substrates after pretreatment, and the results were compared with those with lactose as a carbon source. Both strains were capable of assimilating sugars from all waste materials. Nearly 20 g/L LA from 23 g/L reducing sugars (RS) obtained from DDGS, 22 g/L LA from 21 g/L RS from SCG, and 22 g/L LA from 21 g/L whey lactose were produced compared to 22 g/L LA obtained from 22 g/L lactose monohydrate in the fermentation broth. The wood chip hydrolysate (WH) contains only 10 g/L RS, and its fermentation resulted in the production of 5 g/L LA. This amount is twice as low as that produced from 11 g/L lactose monohydrate. A mathematical model was constructed based on the Compertz and Luedeking–Piret equations. Full article

A nanoparticle formulation was generated from distiller dried grains with solubles (DDGS), and its effect on the production of anthraquinones (AQs) was evaluated on Rubia tinctorum hairy roots. The DDGS material was washed with water and ethyl acetate to remove mainly the soluble organic/inorganic molecules and reduce the fat content, respectively, followed by an alkaline treatment to remove the polysaccharides. The resulting alkaline solutions were then lyophilized and redispersed in deionized water to generate a monodispersed nanoparticulate formulation (DDGS-NP) with a hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential of 227 ± 42 nm and −53 ± 7 mV, respectively. The formulation demonstrated good colloidal stability over time, and sterilized DDGS-NPs maintained comparable physicochemical properties. The nanoparticles were enriched in protein fractions, unsaturated fatty acids, and orthophosphate anion components from DDGS, as determined by solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), organic elemental analysis (OEA), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) techniques. The DDGS-NPs were tested at different concentrations on Rubia tinctorum hairy roots, in comparison to or in combination with methyl jasmonate (MeJ), for their capacity to induce the production of AQs. All DDGS-NP concentrations increased the production of specific AQs to 7.7 (100 mg L⁻¹), 7.8 (200 mg L⁻¹), and 9.3 µmol/gFW (500 mg L⁻¹), with an extracellular AQ accumulation of 18 µM for the highest DDGS-NP concentration, in comparison with the control hairy roots (~2 µM AQ). The plant growth was not affected at any of the tested nanoparticle concentrations. Interestingly, the combination of DDGS-NPs and MeJ resulted in the highest extracellular AQ accumulation in R. tinctorum root cultures. Full article

The growing demand for biofuels, especially ethanol produced from corn, has driven the production of co-products such as dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS). With a high protein content (around 30%), fiber, and minerals, DDGS presents an economical alternative for animal nutrition, replacing traditional sources like soybean meal while maintaining productive performance and reducing costs. This study evaluated the total replacement of soybean meal with DDGS in the diet of confined Holstein cattle, focusing on weight gain, feed intake, digestibility, feed efficiency, animal health, meat quality, and economic viability. The 24 animals received diets with 80% concentrate, containing either DDGS or soybean meal, and no significant differences were observed in terms of body weight (p = 0.92), feed intake (p = 0.98), or feed efficiency (p = 0.97) between the two treatments. The average daily gain was 1.25 and 1.28 kg for cattle in the DDGS and soybean meal groups, respectively (p = 0.92). Regarding metabolic and digestive parameters, no relevant changes were found in blood levels, except for higher serum cholesterol (p = 0.03) levels in animals fed DDGS. The digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (p = 0.03) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (p = 0.05) was lower in the DDGS group, while the digestibility of ether extract was higher (p = 0.02). Rumen fluid analysis revealed an increase in the production of short-chain fatty acids (p = 0.01), such as acetic and butyric acids (p = 0.01), in the DDG-fed animals. In terms of meat quality, animals fed DDGS produced meat with lower levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA) (p = 0.05) and higher levels of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) (p = 0.02), especially oleic acid (p = 0.05). This resulted in a healthier lipid profile, with a higher UFA/SFA ratio (p = 0.01). In terms of economic viability, DDGS-based diets were 10.5% cheaper, reducing the cost of production per animal by 7.67%. Profitability increased by 110% with DDGS compared to soybean meal, despite the high transportation costs. Therefore, replacing soybean meal with DDGS is an efficient and economical alternative for feeding confined cattle, maintaining zootechnical performance, increasing meat lipid content and improving fatty acid profile, and promoting higher profitability. This alternative is particularly advantageous in regions with easy access to the product. Full article

With the increasing demand for ethanol fuel, corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) production is increasing annually. Current global ethanol output is approximately 120–130 billion liters annually, of which bioethanol constitutes 90–95% of total production. Corn DDGS is widely used as a feed ingredient for pigs due to its low cost and crude protein content ranging from 19% to 34%. However, corn DDGS is not effectively utilized because of factors such as raw material sources and inadequate drying processes, and a large portion of it is wasted and lost. It has become a difficult challenge to use DDGS in pig diets because of its weaknesses, including being rich in fiber and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which can lead to decreases in growth performance, feed conversion, and the pork shelf life of pigs. In recent years, researchers focusing on ways to improve the effective utility of corn DDGS in pig diets have made some progress. In this study, we review the nutritional characteristics of corn DDGS; the limiting factors in pig production, such as the higher concentration of non-starch polysaccharides, linoleic acid, and zein in corn DDGS; and the current improvement measures being taken to provide a reference for the improved utilization of corn DDGS resources in the diets of pigs. Full article

A study was conducted using 144 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (22 weeks old) to assess the impact of exogenous enzymes on energy utilisation and ileal nutrient digestibility in diets containing 300 g/kg wheat distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS). A basal diet was prepared and divided into eight treatments: a control (C) and diets supplemented with 2000 units/kg xylanase (XYL), 500 units/kg phytase (PHY), and 4000 units/kg protease (PRO), individually and in combination. The diets were fed for nine days to six coops, each housing three birds. Feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio were recorded. The feed and excreta were analysed for gross energy, and the apparent metabolisable energy (AME) was calculated. On the final day, the birds were euthanised, and ileal digesta were collected, freeze-dried, and analysed for the digestibility coefficients of dry matter (DM), nitrogen, fat, and neutral detergent fibres (NDFs). XYL supplementation improved (p = 0.035) dietary AME but did not affect (p > 0.05) DM, nitrogen, fat, or NDF digestibility. No significant effects (p > 0.05) were observed for PHY or PRO, and no interactions (p > 0.05) were found between enzyme combinations. Substrates in experimental diets involving various enzyme combinations should be given careful consideration. Full article

Different films were synthesized from starch or polysaccharides extracted from distillers dried grains with soluble (DDGS) in combination with different percentages of linear polyethyleneimine (PEI) hydrochloride polymer to assess the mechanical and antimicrobial properties of the resulting composites. Moreover, a simple method for the extraction of the polysaccharide content from DDGS is reported. The materials obtained were characterized by ATR-FTIR, NMR, and XPS spectroscopy, swelling capacity, and by organic elemental analysis. In particular, the stability of the film prepared with only DDGS in copper ion solutions was improved by the incorporation of PEI. ¹³C HRMAS NMR studies evidenced the incorporation of the PEI polymer in the new films. Moreover, the release of PEI molecules from the films was studied by ¹H NMR experiments in D₂O to explain the antimicrobial properties of the PEI-based films against Staphylococcus aureus, with the DDGS–10% PEI films being the most active surface. Furthermore, the incorporation of copper ions into the different films enhanced their antimicrobial activity. Additionally, the starch–10% PEI film exhibited good swelling capacity in deionized water (~1500%), which decreased with the addition of salts (~250%). Instead, the DDGS–10% PEI film showed low swelling capacity in deionized water (~80%), with this capacity increasing with the addition of salts (~250%). The mechanical properties of the films improved considerably when 3% PEI was used. Full article

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of a mountain honeysuckle (Lonicerae flos) extract on the fermentation characteristics, antioxidant capacity and microbial community of silage composed of a mixture of alfalfa, soybean meal and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS). Compared to the Control group, the application of the Lonicerae flos extract (0.05 to 0.25%) expressly improved the fermentation quality of the mixed alfalfa, as indicated by a reduced pH and increased concentrations of crude protein (CP). Notably, butyric acid (BA) was not detected in any treatment group. Additionally, an appropriate concentration of the extract enhanced the antioxidant capacity and active components of the silage. The abundance of L. acetotolerans exhibited an increasing trend corresponding to the rise in honeysuckle extract concentration. In conclusion, this Lonicerae flos extract has potential to improve anaerobic fermentation quality by promoting the growth of beneficial Lactobacillus spp. and inhibiting that of undesirable microbes. This study provides new insights into novel applications of herbal medicine extracts. Full article

This study aimed to examine the nutritional diversity of distillers’ co-products in pigs. Two distinct databases were used in this study. The first was compiled through a systematic review of previous scientific publications that have evaluated the chemical composition and nutritional availability of these ingredients for pigs. The final database included information collected from 49 studies published between 2003 and 2022. Most of the studies focused on distillers’ co-products produced from corn (90%) and assessed dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS; 92%). A wide variety of nutritional compositions was observed in the selected studies, with coefficients of variation of 8% for gross energy and 13% for crude protein in dried distillers grains (DDGs). In the general database, half of the studies were published from 2003 to 2015 and the other half from 2015 to 2022. Greater variability in the net energy content and standardized ileal digestible lysine concentrations from 2015 to 2022 were the main concerns. The second database included information on high-protein dried distillers grains (HP-DDGs) collected directly from several feed mills and was built using the results of chemical analyses. These results suggest that the nutritional matrix of co-products should be assessed for each processing plant. Nevertheless, a coefficient of variation of up to 6% was found for crude protein and up to 20% for ether extract. Variability in nutritional composition is an important challenge of using distillers’ co-products in pig feed. Full article

Lactic acid (LA) is an important chemical with diverse applications in various industries. LA can be produced by the fermentation of different substrates by many microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and algae. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are generally accepted as the main producers of LA. A distinct characteristic of LAB is the complexity of the fermentation media. Distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a by-product from bioethanol production, represent a promising substitute for costly sugars in the nutrition media for LA production. In the present paper, the possibility of using dilute acid DDGS hydrolysates as a substrate for LA fermentation was investigated. The influence of different factors (acid concentration, time, pressure, solid-to-liquid ratio) on the reducing sugars (RS) obtained was studied. Additional enzyme hydrolysis was carried out to increase RS content in the hydrolysates. LA production from hydrolysates without and with control of the pH during fermentation was monitored and compared with lactose as a substrate. Inhibition of the process was observed in both substrates in the absence of pH control which was overcome in the case of pH control. A mathematical model based on the Verhulst and Ludeking–Piret equations was proposed and tested, showing very good agreement with experimental data. Full article

The objectives of the study were to examine the effect of an antibiotic solution applied in the Streptomyces griseus protease method (SGPM) and the effect of carbohydrases in SGPM on the effective crude protein (CP) degradation (ED) with reference to in sacco ED. For this purpose, the ruminal CP degradation of rapeseed meal, dried distillers’ grains with solubles, wheat grain, corn grain, corn silage, grass silage and partial crop field pea silage was determined in sacco using three rumen-fistulated dairy cows and in vitro using SGPM. The impact of the antibiotic solution on CP degradation by S. griseus protease was investigated by supplementing SGPM with Penicillin–Streptomycin solution to reduce microbial mass proliferation during incubation. The carbohydrase α-amylase or Viscozym^® L (cell wall-degrading enzyme mixture) was added to the SGPM at four different doses simultaneously as a co-incubation to improve feed protein accessibility. For most feedstuffs, ED was lower when the antibiotic solution was used in SGPM (p < 0.05). The use of an antibiotic solution in the SGPM is recommended to standardize the SGPM. The in sacco ED values were significantly underestimated by the SGPM and by the SGPM with co-incubated carbohydrase (p < 0.05). Co-incubation of S. griseus protease and carbohydrase was not successful in reducing the differences to the in sacco CP degradation. Full article

Given the significant environmental consequences of current poultry feed practices and the heavy dependence of the European Union on imported soybeans, studying alternatives is crucial. This study evaluated the potential benefits of using locally sourced alternative plant-based ingredients and whole dry black soldier fly larvae in the diet of laying hens. The experiment involved 120 Isazul hens at 23 weeks old, which were divided into three groups with five replicates each (eight hens per replicate): a control diet (CON) based on soybean meal and cereals, an alternative diet (ALT) replacing the soybean meal with locally sourced plant-based resources (peas, distillers’ dried grains with solubles, and sunflower meal), and the ALT diet supplemented with 5% whole dry black soldier fly larvae (ALT+DBSFL). Over 15 weeks, the hens were fed ad libitum, and the production performance, egg quality, and plasma biochemical parameters were assessed across three experimental sub-periods. The results showed no significant differences in body weight, feed intake, egg production, egg weight, egg mass, or feed conversion ratio across the diets (p > 0.05). The egg quality remained consistent across all the groups; however, the hens fed the ALT+DBSFL diet exhibited higher Haugh units in the first experimental sub-period (p < 0.05) and lower plasma cholesterol and triglycerides at 32 weeks of age (p < 0.05). The findings of this study indicate that incorporating these alternative ingredients and whole DBSFL into layers’ diets does not compromise production performance, egg quality, or biochemical parameters related to health status, supporting their potential as sustainable feed alternatives. Full article

This study aimed to determine the values of net energy (NE), digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) and digestibility coefficients of corn ethanol coproducts produced in Brazil and their effects on the nitrogen balance and blood parameters of pigs. Ten barrows were housed in metabolic study cages for total collection and fed a reference diet (RD) or 800 g/kg RD + 200 g/kg of a coproduct of corn ethanol. Distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), corn bran with solubles (CBS), distiller’s dried grains (DDG) and high-protein distiller’s dried grain (HPDDG) were evaluated. The experimental design was randomized blocks with three repetitions per period, totaling six repetitions per diet. Diets containing the HPDDG had greater DE and ME than those containing CBS and DDGS and greater DE than those containing the DDG (p < 0.05). HPDDG, DDG, CBS and DDGS showed 4498, 3419, 3029 and 3335 kcal/kg DE; 4366, 3305, 2934 and 3214 kcal/kg ME; and 2515, 1938, 1649 and 1725 kcal/kg NE, respectively. Pigs fed diets containing HPDDG and CBS showed greater nitrogen retention efficiency than pigs fed DDGS (p < 0.05). Pigs fed diets containing HPDDG had higher blood urea levels than pigs fed CBS and RD, while triglyceride levels in animals that received the CBS diet were greater than those in animals that received all other diets. The HPDDG had the highest energy levels and the best digestibility coefficients. The chemical composition of coproducts influences the nitrogen balance and circulating levels of urea and triglycerides in pigs. Full article

Considering the frequently large price fluctuations for soybean meal, an alternative is the increased use of locally produced high-protein ingredients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the total replacement of soybean meal with different sources of protein on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum parameters, rumen fermentation parameters, and bacterial communities in growing lambs. Sixty sheep with similar body weights (38.46 ± 0.71 kg) were distributed to one of five treatments: soybean meal (SBM); cottonseed meal (COM); peanut meal (PEM); rapeseed meal (RAM); and distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The experiment lasted 62 days with a 10-day adaptation period and a 52-day growing period. The results indicated that the body weight and average daily gain were not affected by different protein sources (p > 0.05), but the dry matter intake of the SBM group was lower than that of the other groups (p < 0.05); otherwise, the feed efficiency was higher (p < 0.05). The digestion of dry matter was higher in the SBM, COM, and RAM groups than in the DDGS and PEM groups (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, compared to the other groups, the SBM group had the highest digestion of gross energy and crude protein (p < 0.05). In addition, the concentration of glutathione peroxidase was highest in the SBM group (p < 0.05). Regarding the rumen fermentation, the SBM group had the highest concentration of NH₃-N (p < 0.05). The rumen bacterial community was not affected by treatments (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the total replacement of soybean meal with cottonseed, peanut, rapeseed, or DDGS reduced digestibility but did not impact the body weight or average daily gain of growing lambs and had no effect on the immune function and rumen bacterial community; thus, they can be used to substitute the soybean meal. Full article

Kafirin is an endosperm-specific hydrophobic protein found in sorghum grain and the waste by-product from sorghum biorefineries known as sorghum dried distillers’ grain with solubles (DDGS). Because of kafirin’s poor nutritional profile (negative nitrogen balance, slow digestibility, and lack of some essential amino acids), its direct human use as a food is restricted. Nevertheless, increased focus on biofuel production from sorghum grain has triggered a new wave of research to use sorghum DDGS kafirin as a food-grade protein for biomaterials with diverse applications. These applications result from kafirin’s unique chemical nature: high hydrophobicity, evaporation-induced self-assembling capacity, elongated conformation, water insolubility, and low digestibility. Aqueous alcohol mixtures have been widely used for the extraction of kafirin. The composition, structure, extraction methodologies, and physiochemical properties of kafirin, emphasising its biomaterial functionality, are discussed in detail in this review. The literature survey reveals an in-depth understanding of extraction methodologies and their impact on structure functionality, which could assist in formulating materials of kafirin at a commercial scale. Ongoing research continues to explore the potential of kafirin and optimise its utilisation as a functional biomaterial, highlighting its valuable structural and physicochemical properties. Further studies should focus on covering gaps in the research as some of the current structural understanding comes from data on zein protein from maize. Full article

Non-biodegradable plastic materials pose environmental hazards and contribute to pollution. Arabinoxylan (AX) films have been created for applications in food packaging to replace these materials. The water interaction characteristics of biodegradable AX films were assessed following the extraction of AX from dry-milled corn bran (DCB), wet-milled corn bran (WCB), and dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS). Films were prepared with laccase and sorbitol before surface modification with lipase–vinyl acetate. Water solubility of the modified DCB films was significantly reduced (p < 0.05); however, the water solubility of modified WCB films decreased insignificantly (p > 0.05) compared to unmodified films. Water vapor permeability of the modified AX films from WCB and DDGS was significantly reduced (p < 0.05), unlike their unmodified counterparts. The biodegradation rates of the modified WCB AX and DDGS films increased after 63 and 99 days, respectively, compared to the unmodified films. The hydrophilic nature of AX polymers from WCB and DDGS enhances the biodegradability of the films. This study found that the modified WCB AX film was more hydrophobic, and the modified DDGS AX film was more biodegradable than the modified DCB AX film. Overall, surface modifications have potential for improving hydrophobicity of biopolymer films. Full article