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Grape marc (the skins, seeds, stalk, and stems remaining after grapes have been pressed to make wine) is currently a by-product used as a feed supplement by the dairy and beef industries. Grape marc contains condensed tannins and has high concentrations of crude fat; both these substances can reduce enteric methane (CH4) production when fed to ruminants. This experiment examined the effects of dietary supplementation with either dried, pelleted grape marc or ensiled grape marc on yield and composition of milk, enteric CH4 emissions, and ruminal microbiota in dairy cows. Thirty-two Holstein dairy cows in late lactation were offered 1 of 3 diets: a control (CON) diet; a diet containing dried, pelleted grape marc (DGM); and a diet containing ensiled grape marc (EGM). The diet offered to cows in the CON group contained 14.0 kg of alfalfa hay dry matter (DM)/d and 4.3 kg of concentrate mix DM/d. Diets offered to cows in the DGM and EGM groups contained 9.0 kg of alfalfa hay DM/d, 4.3 kg of concentrate mix DM/d, and 5.0 kg of dried or ensiled grape marc DM/d, respectively. These diets were offered individually to cows for 18 d. Individual cow feed intake and milk yield were measured daily and milk composition measured on 4 d/wk. Individual cow CH4 emissions were measured by the SF6 tracer technique on 2 d at the end of the experiment. Ruminal bacterial, archaeal, fungal, and protozoan communities were quantified on the last day of the experiment. Cows offered the CON, DGM, and EGM diets, ate 95, 98, and 96%, respectively, of the DM offered. The mean milk yield of cows fed the EGM diet was 12.8 kg/cow per day and was less than that of cows fed either the CON diet (14.6 kg/cow per day) or the DGM diet (15.4 kg/cow per day). Feeding DGM and EGM diets was associated with decreased milk fat yields, lower concentrations of saturated fatty acids, and enhanced concentrations of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular cis-9,trans-11 linoleic acid. The mean CH4 emissions were 470, 375, and 389 g of CH4/cow per day for cows fed the CON, DGM, and EGM diets, respectively. Methane yields were 26.1, 20.2, and 21.5 g of CH4/kg of DMI for cows fed the CON, DGM, and EGM diets, respectively. The ruminal bacterial and archaeal communities were altered by dietary supplementation with grape marc, but ruminal fungal and protozoan communities were not. Decreases of approximately 20% in CH4 emissions and CH4 yield indicate that feeding DGM and EGM could play a role in CH4 abatement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chicken growth study was conducted to determine if litter type influenced gut microbiota and performance in broilers. Seven bedding materials were investigated and included soft and hardwood sawdust, softwood shavings, shredded paper, chopped straw, rice hulls, and reused softwood shavings. Microbial profiling was done to investigate changes in cecal bacterial communities associated with litter material and age. Cecal microbiota were investigated at 14 and 28 d of age (n = 12 birds/litter material). At both ages, the cecal microbiota of chickens raised on reused litter was significantly (P < 0.05) differ: it from that of chickens raised on any of the other litter materials, except softwood shavings at d 28. Cecal microbiota was also significantly different between birds raised on shredded paper and rice hulls at both ages. Age had a significant influence on cecal microbiota composition regardless of litter material. Similarity in cecal microbial communities among birds raised on the same litter treatment was greater at 28 d of age (29 to 40%) than at 14 d of age (25 to 32%). Bird performance on the different litter materials was measured by feed conversion ratio, live weight, and feed intake. Significant (P < 0.05) differences were detected in live weight at 14 d of age and feed intake at 14 and 28 d of age among birds (n = 160/treatment) raised on some of the different litter materials. However, no significant (P > 0.05) differences were observed in feed conversion ratio among birds raised on any of the 7 different litter materials at either 14 or 28 d of age. The type of litter material can influence colonization and development of cecal microbiota in chickens. Litter-induced changes in the gut microbiota may be partially responsible for some of the significant differences observed in early rates of growth; therefore, litter choice may have an important role in poultry gut health particularly in the absence of in-feed antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capacity for n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to improve broiler chicken growth, influence the intestinal microbial communities, and modify the PUFA content of meat was studied. .Male Cobb 500 chickens were fed 1 of 4 diets from hatch: control (standard diet with no additives), ZnB (standard diet with added antibiotics), 2% SALmate (standard diet with 2% SALmate, which is composed of 42% fish oil and 58% starch), and 5% SALmate (standard diet with 5% SALmate). A 7-d energy metabolism study was conducted between d 15 and 22 posthatch. Birds were killed at d 25 and intestinal samples were collected to assess microbial communities by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and Lactobacill'as PCRdenaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Diet did not affect BW, feed intake, feed conversion, or ileal digestible energy (P > 0.05). Apparent ME was greater in ZnB-fed birds compared with all other diets (P < 0.05). Breast tissue levels of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and total n-3 PUFA were elevated significantly in 2% SALmate- and 5% SALmate-fed chickens compared with control and ZnB diets (P < 0.05). No significant differences in overall microbial communities were observed in the ileum or cecum as assessed by terminal RFLP (P > 0.05). Birds fed 2% SALmate had a significantly different cecal Lactobacillus species profile compared with birds fed the control diet (P < 0.05); however, no differences were observed in birds fed 5% SALmate compared with birds fed all other diets. In addition to the expected increase in breast tissue n-3 fatty acid levels, a low level of dietary n-3 PUFA also altered the intestinal Lactobacillus species profiles. However, n-3 PUFA supplementation did not alter the overall microbial communities or broiler performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape marc (the skins, seeds, stalk, and stems remaining after grapes have been pressed to make wine) is currently a by-product used as a feed supplement by the dairy and beef industries. Grape marc contains condensed tannins and has high concentrations of crude fat; both these substances can reduce enteric methane (CH4) production when fed to ruminants. This experiment examined the effects of dietary supplementation with either dried, pelleted grape marc or ensiled grape marc on yield and composition of milk, enteric CH4 emissions, and ruminal microbiota in dairy cows. Thirty-two Holstein dairy cows in late lactation were offered 1 of 3 diets: a control (CON) diet; a diet containing dried, pelleted grape marc (DGM); and a diet containing ensiled grape marc (EGM). The diet offered to cows in the CON group contained 14.0kg of alfalfa hay dry matter (DM)/d and 4.3kg of concentrate mix DM/d. Diets offered to cows in the DGM and EGM groups contained 9.0kg of alfalfa hay DM/d, 4.3kg of concentrate mix DM/d, and 5.0kg of dried or ensiled grape marc DM/d, respectively. These diets were offered individually to cows for 18d. Individual cow feed intake and milk yield were measured daily and milk composition measured on 4d/wk. Individual cow CH4 emissions were measured by the SF6 tracer technique on 2d at the end of the experiment. Ruminal bacterial, archaeal, fungal, and protozoan communities were quantified on the last day of the experiment. Cows offered the CON, DGM, and EGM diets, ate 95, 98, and 96%, respectively, of the DM offered. The mean milk yield of cows fed the EGM diet was 12.8kg/cow per day and was less than that of cows fed either the CON diet (14.6kg/cow per day) or the DGM diet (15.4kg/cow per day). Feeding DGM and EGM diets was associated with decreased milk fat yields, lower concentrations of saturated fatty acids, and enhanced concentrations of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular cis-9,trans-11 linoleic acid. The mean CH4 emissions were 470, 375, and 389g of CH4/cow per day for cows fed the CON, DGM, and EGM diets, respectively. Methane yields were 26.1, 20.2, and 21.5g of CH4/kg of DMI for cows fed the CON, DGM, and EGM diets, respectively. The ruminal bacterial and archaeal communities were altered by dietary supplementation with grape marc, but ruminal fungal and protozoan communities were not. Decreases of approximately 20% in CH4 emissions and CH4 yield indicate that feeding DGM and EGM could play a role in CH4 abatement., (Copyright © 2014 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The influence of in-feed lactoferrin (Lf) on bird production, intestinal microbiota, mucosal immune system and gut microarchitecture was assessed in male Cobb 500 broiler chickens. Birds were given one of four diets from day of hatch: Control (basal diet with no additives), ZnB (basal diet + 50 mg/kg zinc bacitracin), Lf 250 mg/kg (basal diet + 250 mg/kg Lf) and Lf 500 mg/kg (basal diet + 500 mg/kg Lf); n = 24 birds/treatment. An apparent metabolisable energy study was performed between d 25-32. Lf did not affect growth rate or feed conversion in the period 0-21 d of age, nor performance or energy metabolism during the 7 d metabolism experiment which commenced at 25 d of age.The profiles of caecal microbial communities were significantly different in birds given ZnB compared with birds given a diet with no additives, or supplemented with 250 mg/kg Lf. Birds given 250 mg/kg Lf also had a different microbial profile compared with birds given 500 mg/kg Lf. In comparison to control birds, Lf treated birds showed some differences in the T cell proportions in caecal tonsil and spleen. No differences in ileal villus height, crypt depth or goblet cell proportions were observed amongst dietary treatments. Whilst Lf had little effect on the measured parameters, the use of an integrated approach to study the influence of novel feed additives may facilitate a greater understanding of the relationships between nutrition, gut health and bird performance.