The objective of the research was to investigate the bioactive compounds of herbal plant leaves by microencapsulation technique for future application as a feed additive. In this experiment, three herbal plant leaves, namely Cannabis sativa L., Cannabis indica L., and Mitragyna speiosa K., were comparatively investigated using different methods to extract their bioactive compounds. Two methods were used to extract the bioactive compounds: microwave extraction (water-heating transferred) and maceration extraction (methanol extracted). The results obtained using microwave extraction revealed that the total polyphenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant capacity were significantly higher and stronger, respectively, than those produced by the maceration extraction method (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the spray-drying technique was employed to enhance the extracted compounds by encapsulation with chitosan through ionic gelation properties. The physical characteristics of chitosan-encapsulated substrates were examined under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and were as microparticle size (1.45 to 11.0 µm). The encapsulation efficiency of the bioactive compounds was found to be 99.7, 82.3, and 54.6% for microencapsulated M. speiosa, C. indica, and C. sativa, respectively. Therefore, microwave treatment prior to chitosan encapsulation of leaf extracts resulted in increased recovery of bioactive compound encroachment.

The influence of sulfur included in fermented total mixed ration (FTMR) containing fresh cassava root on rumen characteristics, microbial protein synthesis, and blood metabolites in cattle was evaluated. Four Thai native beef cattle were randomly assigned according to a 2 × 2 factorial in a 4 × 4 Latin square design, and dietary treatments were as follows: factor A included a level of sulfur at 1% and 2% in total mixed ration, and factor B featured ensiling times at zero and 7 days. Digestibility of dry matter was increased when FTMR was supplemented with 2% sulfur. Blood thiocyanate increased by 69.5% when ensiling time was 7 days compared to no ensiling (p < 0.01). Bacterial populations were significantly different in the FTMR containing sulfur at 2% and 7 days of ensiling. Furthermore, microbial crude protein and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis were higher in the FTMR containing 2% sulfur and 7 days of ensiling (p < 0.01). Thus, high levels of hydrocyanic acid from fresh cassava root could be detoxified by a sulfur addition with an ensiling process to become nontoxic to cattle.

The purpose of this study was to determine how ruminal Crabtree-negative yeast affects the nutritional characteristics of winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) tubers (WBT), in vitro gas and digestibility, and rumen fermentation. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete design with a 5 × 2 (+1) factorial arrangement. Factor A determined the WBT products (a₁ = dry WBT, a₂ = fermented WBT without yeast in media solution, a₃ = fermented WBT with Pichia kudriavzevii KKU20, a₄ = fermented WBT with Candida tropicalis KKU20, and a₅ = fermented WBT with Saccharomyces cerevisiae), whereas factor B determined the level of fermented WBT replacing cassava chips (b₁ = WBT at 50% and b₂ = 100% levels). The results of the experiment showed that the fermentation approach could increase the crude protein (CP) content of WBT by around 7% (p < 0.01). The WBT fermented with yeast lowered the number of aerobic bacteria during the fermentation process (p < 0.01). P. kudriazevii KKU20 yeast strain had a 17.3% higher final asymptotic gas volume (Vf) than the C. tropicalis KKU20. Crabtree-negative yeast had a higher in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) than Crabtree-positive yeast after 12 h of incubation (p < 0.01). Fermented WBT with yeast had a higher IVDMD after 24 h of incubation than fermented WBT without yeast in the media solution (p < 0.05). The fermented WBT with C. tropicalis KKU20 enhanced propionic acid (C3) concentrations when cassava chips were replaced for half of all of the diet (C3 ranged from 26.0 to 26.4 mol/100 mol; p < 0.01). Furthermore, Crabtree-negative yeast isolated from the rumen stimulates rumen bacteria more effectively than Crabtree-positive yeast (p < 0.01). According to our findings, nutritional enrichment with yeast might increase the in vitro gas production and digestibility of WBT. The study also demonstrated that Crabtree-negative yeast has a promising lead in terms of improving rumen fermentation quality. However, further research is required before deciding on an effective approach for optimizing the potential of WBT as a feed source.

One hundred and forty-four Angus × Simmental steers were allotted by body weight (BW; 363 kg), breed composition, and farm origin to a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of six treatments (4 pens per treatment) to determine the effect of Mootral (garlic + citrus extract; 0.25% of the diet dry matter [DM] vs. 0.0%) on methane (CH₄) emissions, growth, and carcass characteristics of feedlot cattle. During the first 84 d, cattle were fed three different forage concentrations in the diet (15%, 41.5%, or 68% corn silage) with or without Mootral. From day 85 to slaughter, corn silage was included at 15% of the diet DM with or without Mootral. CH₄ emissions were measured on day 42 to 46 and day 203 to 207. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Mootral did not affect CH₄ emissions on days 42 to 46 (P ≥ 0.47), but there was a forage effect, where steers fed the 68% corn silage emitted more CH₄ on a g/d (P = 0.05) and a g/kg of dry matter intake (DMI; P = 0.007) basis and tended (P = 0.07) to produce more CH₄ on g/kg BW basis compared to steers fed the 15% corn silage diet. On day 203 to 207, steers fed Mootral emitted less (P ≤ 0.03) CH₄ on a g/d, g/kg DMI, and g/kg BW basis compared to steers not fed Mootral. There was an interaction (P = 0.03) between forage concentration and Mootral for DMI from day 0 to 84, where Mootral decreased DMI of steers fed 15% corn silage but did not affect DMI of steers fed 41.5% or 68% corn silage. There were no effects (P ≥ 0.22) of forage concentration or Mootral on BW or average daily gain at any time, or on DMI from day 84 to slaughter and overall. However, overall calculated net energy for maintenance (NE_m) and net energy for gain (NE_g) tended to be greater for steers fed Mootral (P ≤ 0.10). Intake from day 0 to 84 was lower and gain:feed from day 0 to 84 and overall was greater (P = 0.04) for steers fed 68% compared to steers fed 41.5% corn silage. Calculated NE_m and NE_g from day 0 to 84 and overall were greater for steers fed 68% corn silage compared to steers fed 41.5% corn silage (P ≤ 0.03). Mootral tended to decrease (P ≤ 0.09) fat thickness and yield grade. In conclusion, increasing forage concentration increased CH₄ emissions and Mootral decreased CH₄ production in 15% corn silage diets and tended to improve carcass leanness. Methane (CH₄) production from enteric fermentation in ruminant animals is a contributor to global CH₄, which is a greenhouse gas. Mootral (Mootral SA, Rolle, Switzerland) is a feed supplement that contains garlic and bitter orange extracts that are known to inhibit methanogenic bacteria. The objective of the current study was to quantify CH₄ production and determine growth, intake, and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers fed Mootral in diets with a low, medium, and high forage concentration. Our findings demonstrate that increasing forage concentration increased CH₄ emissions and that Mootral decreased CH₄ production in 15% corn silage diets and improved carcass leanness. Mootral could be used in commercial feedlots and other grain-feeding scenarios as an effective method to decrease CH₄ emissions.

The aim of the present research was to determine the influence of sulfur and urea combined with fresh cassava root in fermented total mixed ration (FTMR) on digestibility, fermentation in the rumen, blood metabolite, milk yield, and milk quality in tropical lactating dairy cows. Four mid-lactation Thai Holstein–Friesian crossbred cows were studied. Pre-experiment milk yield was 12.7 ± 0.30 kg/day, and the body weight was 495 ± 40.0 kg. Animals were evaluated in a 2 × 2 factorial in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to receive diets followed by: factor A, which was a dose of sulfur inclusion at 1.0% and 2.0%, and factor B, which was level of urea inclusion at 1.25% and 2.5% DM in FTMR. The hydrogen cyanide (HCN) concentrations reduced 99.3% to 99.4% compared with fresh cassava root when FTMR was supplemented with 1.0% and 2.0% sulfur, respectively. Intake of crude protein was increased based on urea level addition (p < 0.05). Blood thiocyanate concentration was increased by 21.6% when sulfur was supplemented at 2.0% compared to 1.0% (p < 0.05). There was no difference in protozoal concentration, whereas bacterial populations at 4 h after feeding were significantly greater by 6.1% with the FTMR supplemented with 2.0% sulfur and 2.5% urea (p < 0.01). Allantoin concentrations, excretion, absorption, and microbial crude protein showed significant interactions between sulfur levels and urea levels in cows fed diets supplemented with 2.0% sulfur and 2.5% urea (p < 0.05). The molar ratios of the volatile fatty acid (VFA) profile were affected by dietary FTMR (p < 0.01). Furthermore, propionic acid increased by 4.6% when diets were supplemented by 2.5% sulfur (p < 0.01). Milk fat and total solids increased when feed was supplemented with 2.0% sulfur and 2.5% urea (p < 0.05). The diets supplemented with 2.0% sulfur levels resulted in greater concentrations of milk thiocyanate (p < 0.05). The somatic cell count was significantly reduced throughout the experiment with increasing sulfur supplementation (p < 0.05). Animals fed diets supplemented with 2.0% sulfur exhibited a decreased somatic cell count by 18.3% compared with those fed diets supplemented with 1.0% sulfur. Thus, inclusion of 2.0% sulfur with 2.5% urea in FTMR containing fresh cassava root improved digestibility, ruminal fermentation, microbial crude protein synthesis, and milk qualities in dairy cows.

Feed is the most expensive component in goat production. Hence, lowering it is crucial to increasing producer profitability. The microbial community in rumen is vital for nutritional digestion and absorption in ruminants. Live yeast and yeast-based products generated from the strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae (commercial strain) are actively being used and investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of substituting soybean meal (SBM) in concentrate diets with yeast-fermented palm kernel cake protein (YFPKCP) on dry matter intake, digestibility, blood markers, and nitrogen balance. Five crossbred Thai Native-Anglo-Nubian goats (50% Thai Native goats with 50% Anglo-Nubian goats) weighing an average of 27 ± 2 kg were randomly allocated to one of five diets using a 5 × 5 Latin square design: 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% YFPKCP replacement for SBM. Plicatulum hay (Paspalum plicatulum Michx.) was provided ad libitum. There were no significant differences in dry matter (DM) intake among treatments, but the apparent digestibility of DM, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were affected (p < 0.05) by including YFPKCP in diets. They also tended to be slightly lower for goats fed the diet containing 100% YFPKCP replacement for SBM compared to other treatments. Ruminal pH, ammonia-nitrogen (NH₃-N), blood glucose, and packed cell volume were equivalent among treatments. On the other hand, replacement YFPKCP reduced digestibility and N absorption by up to 75% (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was no difference in total volatile fatty-acid concentration among goats fed YFPKCP as a substitute for SBM. According to the results of this study, the level of YFPKCP in the concentrate replacement of SBM for goats fed plicatulum hay should be 75%.