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Interfaces between Ruminant Nutrition, Ruminant Physiology and Quality of Products

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 30383

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Einar Vargas-Bello-Pérez

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Guest Editor

School of Agriculture, Policy and Development. University of Reading, UK
Interests: quality of dairy products and sensory analysis; processing and preservation of animal-origin products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Heidi Leskinen

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Guest Editor

Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Jokioinen, Finland
Interests: ruminant lipid metabolism and milk quality

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nutrition and physiology are important research fields that contribute to the quality of final products. Understanding the interphases between both disciplines can establish a crosstalk between animal and food sciences. Very often, both are seen as two different fields, but they can actually complement each other.

The overall approach for this special issue is “from farm to fork”, including ruminant performance, ruminant metabolism, ruminant physiology, sensory analysis, and feed and food analysis.

We invite reviews and original research papers that address the use of ruminant nutrition and physiology with focus to the quality of the final product, such as dairy, beef, and fiber (wool). Moreover, contributions that make a clear link between the nutrition and physiology of ruminants to the environmental and economic sustainability of food are welcome.

Dr. Einar Vargas-Bello Perez
Prof. Heidi Leskinen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

nutrition
physiology
dairy
meat
product quality

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 956 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physicochemical Characteristics of Yogurt from Sheep Fed with Moringa oleifera Leaf Extracts

by Miriam M. Mendoza-Taco, Aldenamar Cruz-Hernández, Angélica A. Ochoa-Flores, Josafat A. Hernández-Becerra, Armando Gómez-Vázquez, Victor M. Moo-Huchin, Ángel Piñeiro-Vázquez, Alfonso J. Chay-Canul and Einar Vargas-Bello-Pérez

Animals 2022, 12(1), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12010110 - 4 Jan 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2504

Abstract

This study determined the effect of feeding Moringa oleifera (MO) leaf extracts to lactating ewes on the physicochemical composition of their milk and yogurt during storage (4 °C for 14 days) and the sensory acceptance of the yogurt. Over 45 days, 24 multiparous lactating Pelibuey and Katahdin ewes (two days in lactation) were randomly assigned to four groups: MO-0, basal diet (BD) + 0 mL MO; MO-20, BD + 20 mL MO; MO-40, BD + 40 mL MO; and MO-60, BD + 60 mL MO. In the milk, an increase of 6% in protein, 26% in leucine, 14% in ash, and 1% in the pH (6.71) was observed with MO-60. The density values decreased by 0.3% at a higher dose of MO compared to MO-0, while the nonfat solids (NFS) in the milk were similar between the treatments. In the yogurt, an increase of 5% in protein, 113% in leucine (MO-20), 9% in NFS, and a reduction of 2% in moisture with MO-60 was observed. The acidity reflected an inverse relationship to the pH, as did the moisture and NFS with MO-60. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with MO in lactating ewes did not have negative effects on the chemical composition of their yogurt during storage (14 days). Overall, feeding sheep with 20 mL of MO positively influenced the physicochemical composition of their milk and yogurt during storage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfaces between Ruminant Nutrition, Ruminant Physiology and Quality of Products)

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21 pages, 2450 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Inclusion of Cold-Pressed Rapeseed Cake in the Concentrate for Dairy Cows upon Ruminal Biohydrogenation Process, Ruminal Microbial Community and Milk Production and Acceptability

by Idoia Goiri, Izaro Zubiria, Jose Luís Lavín, Hanen Benhissi, Raquel Atxaerandio, Roberto Ruiz, Nerea Mandaluniz and Aser García-Rodríguez

Animals 2021, 11(9), 2553; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092553 - 30 Aug 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2292

Abstract

The aim of this trial was to assess the effect of feeding a concentrate including cold-pressed rapeseed cake (CPRC) on productive performance, milk quality and its sensory properties, ruminal biohydrogenation, and bacterial communities. Eighteen cows were paired, and two experimental diets (control vs. CPRC) were distributed within the pair. Concentrates were iso-energetic and iso-proteic and contained similar amounts of fat. The average days in milk, milk yield, and body weight of the animals were (mean ± SD) 172 ± 112 d, 585 ± 26 kg, and 25.4 ± 6.2 kg/d, respectively. The experiment lasted for 10 wk. Feeding CPRC resulted in lower ruminal saturated (p < 0.001) and higher monounsaturated (p = 0.002) fatty acids. Feeding CPRC increased Ruminococcus, Prevotella, and Entodinium but decreased Blautia; p-75-a5; undefined genera within orders Clostridiaceae and RF39 and within families Christensenellaceae, Lachnospiracease, and Ruminococcaceae; and fungi from the phylum neocallimastigomycota. The milk fatty acid profile was characterized by a lower n6:n3 ratio (p = 0.028). Feeding CPRC did not affect the milk yield, milk quality, or fat corrected milk (p > 0.05). Feeding CPRC improved the overall milk acceptability (p = 0.047). In conclusion, CPRC affected some microbial taxa, modified the biohydrogenation process, and improved the milk fatty acid profile and consumer acceptance without detrimental effects on milk production and composition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfaces between Ruminant Nutrition, Ruminant Physiology and Quality of Products)

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15 pages, 1332 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Short-Term Variations of C18:1 Trans Fatty Acids in Plasma Lipoproteins and Ruminal Fermentation Parameters of Non-Lactating Cows Subjected to Ruminal Pulses of Oils

by Einar Vargas-Bello-Pérez, Juan J. Loor and Philip C. Garnsworthy

Animals 2021, 11(3), 788; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11030788 - 12 Mar 2021

Viewed by 1872

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate short-term variations of trans fatty acids (TFA) in plasma lipoproteins and ruminal fermentation parameters of non-lactating cows subjected to ruminal pulses of vegetable oils. Three non-lactating, non-pregnant Holstein cows, each with a ruminal cannula, were arranged in a 3 × 3 Latin square design with three-day pulsing periods and four-day washout intervals between treatments. Cows were treated with single ruminal pulses of: (1) control (skimmed milk (SM); 500 mL); (2) soybean oil (SO; 250 g/d in 500 mL of SM) and (3) partially-hydrogenated vegetable oil (PHVO; 250 g/d in 500 mL of SM). Time changes after infusion in TFA contents were only observed for plasma C18:1 trans-4, trans-5 and trans-12, and high-density lipoprotein fraction C18:1 trans-9. After ruminal pulses, concentration of acetate decreased linearly; molar concentrations of propionate and valerate increased linearly; molar concentrations of butyrate and isovalerate changed quadratically and were greater at 1 h than at other times. There was an accumulation of several C18:1 TFA in plasma and lipoproteins, especially on the third day of pulsing. Overall, naturally occurring C18:1 TFA isomers (produced during ruminal biohydrogenation of SO) and preformed TFA (supplied by PHVO) elicited differential TFA partitioning and transport in plasma and lipoproteins. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfaces between Ruminant Nutrition, Ruminant Physiology and Quality of Products)

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13 pages, 552 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Composition, Fatty Acid Profile and Sensory Characteristics of Chanco-Style Cheese from Early Lactation Dairy Cows Fed Winter Brassica Crops

by Einar Vargas-Bello-Pérez, Carolina Geldsetzer-Mendoza, Rodrigo A. Ibáñez, José Ramón Rodríguez, Christian Alvarado-Gillis and Juan P. Keim

Animals 2021, 11(1), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010107 - 7 Jan 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2866

Abstract

Brassica crops such as kale and swede can be supplied to cow diets during winter, however little is known about the effects of feeding those forage brassicas to lactating cows on cheese nutritional characteristics of milk and cheese. This study evaluated the effect of including kale or swede in pasture-fed lactating dairy cow diets on chemical composition, fatty acid (FA) profile, and sensory characteristics of Chanco-style cheese. Twelve early-lactation cows were used in a replicated (n = 4) 3 × 3 square Latin square design. The control diet consisted of (DM basis) 10.0 kg of grass silage, 4.0 kg of fresh grass pasture, 1.5 kg soybean meal, 1.0 kg of canola meal, and 4.0 kg of cereal-based concentrate. The other treatments replaced 25% of the diet with swede or kale. Milk yield, milkfat, and milk protein were similar between treatments as were cheese moisture, fat, and protein. Swede and kale increased total saturated cheese FA while thrombogenic index was greater in swede, but color homogeneity and salty flavor were greater while ripe cheese aroma less than for kale. Kale or swede can be used in the diet of pasture-fed lactating dairy cows without negative effects on milk production, milk composition, or cheese composition. However, kale and swede increased total cheese saturated FA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfaces between Ruminant Nutrition, Ruminant Physiology and Quality of Products)

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11 pages, 278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Production Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Milk Composition of Dairy Ewes Supplemented with Crushed Sunflower Seeds and Sunflower Seed Silage in Corn Silage-Based Diets

by Eduardo Cardoso-Gutiérrez, Alondra Cristel Narváez-López, Lizbeth E. Robles-Jiménez, Andrés Morales Osorio, María de Guadalupe Gutierrez-Martinez, Heidi Leskinen, Marcello Mele, Einar Vargas-Bello-Pérez and Manuel González-Ronquillo

Animals 2020, 10(12), 2354; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122354 - 9 Dec 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2956

Abstract

This study determined production performance, nutrient digestibility, and milk composition of dairy ewes supplemented with crushed sunflower seeds (Helianthus annuus) and sunflower seed silage in corn silage-based diets. Six ewes were grouped in a double 3 × 3 Latin square design with three periods of 21 days. All treatments were based on ad libitum corn silage. Control diet was based on alfalfa hay (333 g/kg DM), sorghum grain (253 g/kg DM), triticale grain (200 g/kg DM), soybean meal (167 g /kg DM), and vitamin and mineral premix (47 g/kg DM). Sunflower seeds (SF) and sunflower seed silage (SFS) treatments consisted of alfalfa hay (333 g/kg DM), sorghum grain (267 g/kg DM), triticale grain (100 g/kg DM), soybean meal (167 g /kg DM), SF or SFS (87 g/kg DM) and vitamin and mineral premix (47 g/kg DM). Compared to control, SF and SFS increased intake and digestibility of fiber components, such as neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). Body weight, nitrogen balance, milk yield, milk fat yield, milk protein yield, lactose yield and milk urea N were similar between treatments. Overall, results demonstrated that crushed sunflower seeds and ensiled seeds do not change significantly productive parameters of dairy sheep. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfaces between Ruminant Nutrition, Ruminant Physiology and Quality of Products)

13 pages, 288 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of the Dietary Inclusion of Buriti Oil on Lamb Performance, Carcass Traits, Digestibility, Nitrogen Balance, Ingestive Behavior and Blood Metabolites

by Luciana Diogénes, Leilson Bezerra, José Pereira Filho, Jarbas Silva Junior, Juliana Oliveira, José Moura, Analivia Barbosa, Mateus Souza, Sheila Sousa, Elzânia Pereira and Ronaldo Oliveira

Animals 2020, 10(11), 1973; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10111973 - 28 Oct 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1862

Abstract

Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa L.) oil (BO) is a byproduct that can be incorporated into the diet of lambs, thus increasing the energy density. The study aimed to evaluate the optimum BO inclusion level in lamb diets. Sixty-five Santa Ines lambs were distributed in two completely randomized experiments with five treatments each (BO inclusion at 0 (control), 12, 24, 36 and 48 g/kg dry matter (DM) total). The BO supplementation to partially replace ground corn linearly decreased the nutrient intake and digestibility of DM, ether extract and neutral detergent fiber (NDF), N° chews/bolus, DM and NDF rumination or eating efficiencies, the N intake and N balance, carcass weights and yields, and dressing content of lamb carcasses (p < 0.05). The addition of BO responded quadratically to DM eating efficiency and N-fecal and N-urinary excretion (p < 0.05). The linear response plateau (LRP) analysis demonstrated that the levels of 0 and 12 g/kg of BO were similar, and improved intake and digestibility and consequently performance (p < 0.001). There was a linear increase in feed efficiency and shrinkage after chilling with the BO inclusion replacing ground corn. The inclusion of 12 g/kg BO in the total DM of diet is recommended, because it improves feeding intake, digestibility and performance of lambs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfaces between Ruminant Nutrition, Ruminant Physiology and Quality of Products)

14 pages, 2275 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Calcium Soaps from Palm, Canola and Safflower Oils on Dry Matter Intake, Nutrient Digestibility, Milk Production, and Milk Composition in Dairy Goats

by Einar Vargas-Bello-Pérez, Lizbeth Esmeralda Robles-Jimenez, Rafael Ayala-Hernández, Jose Romero-Bernal, Nazario Pescador-Salas, Octavio Alonso Castelán-Ortega and Manuel González-Ronquillo

Animals 2020, 10(10), 1728; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101728 - 23 Sep 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3626

Abstract

This study determined the effect of protected dietary oils on dry matter intake (DMI), digestibility and milk production in dairy goats. Nine Saanen goats were used in a 3 × 3 Latin square design with three periods of 25 days. A basal diet based on barley hay and corn silage was supplemented with 2.7% DM of calcium soaps of either palm (PO), canola (CO) or safflower (SO) oils. Data for dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility and milk production was analyzed using the general linear model (GLM) procedure of SAS. Gas production data was analyzed using the procedure of non-linear regression analysis (PROC NLIN) from SAS. Nutrient intakes were not affected by treatments. However, compared with CO, the digestibility of dry matter (653 vs. 552 and 588 g/kg), organic matter (663 vs. 559 and 606 g/kg) and neutral detergent fiber (616 vs. 460 and 510 g/kg) were lowered (p < 0.001) by SO and PO. Compared with CO, in vitro gas production increased (p < 0.001) in PO and SO (174 vs. 201 and 206 mL gas/g incubated DM). Compared with PO and CO, milk production increased (p < 0.001) with SO (0.88 and 0.95 vs. 1.10 kg/d, respectively). With regard to PO and SO, CO decreased fat (34 and 35 vs. 32 g/d) and protein (35 and 38 vs. 30 g/d) in milk. In conclusion, compared to the traditional use of calcium soaps manufactured from PO, protected SO resulted in increased milk yield without negative effects on digestibility and nutrient intake. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfaces between Ruminant Nutrition, Ruminant Physiology and Quality of Products)

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14 pages, 1124 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prediction of Carcass Traits of Hair Sheep Lambs Using Body Measurements

by Emmanuel Bautista-Díaz, Jesús Alberto Mezo-Solis, José Herrera-Camacho, Aldenamar Cruz-Hernández, Armando Gomez-Vazquez, Luis Orlindo Tedeschi, Héctor Aarón Lee-Rangel, Einar Vargas-Bello-Pérez and Alfonso Juventino Chay-Canul

Animals 2020, 10(8), 1276; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10081276 - 27 Jul 2020

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3889

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the relationship between the body measurements (BMs) and carcass characteristics of hair sheep lambs. Twenty hours before slaughter, the shrunk body weight (SBW) and BMs were recorded. The BMs involved were height at withers (HW), rib depth (RD), body diagonal length (BDL), body length (BL), pelvic girdle length (PGL), rump depth (RuD), rump height (RH), pin-bone width (PBW), hook-bone width (HBW), abdomen width (AW), girth (GC), and abdomen circumference (AC). After slaughter, the carcasses were weighed and chilled for 24 h at 1 °C, and then were split by the dorsal midline. The left-half was dissected into total soft tissues (muscle + fat; TST) and bone (BON), which were weighed separately. The weights of viscera and organs (VIS), internal fat (IF), and offals (OFF—skin, head, feet, tail, and blood) were also recorded. The equations obtained for predicting SBW, HCW, and CCW had an r² ranging from 0.89 to 0.99, and those for predicting the TST and BON had an r² ranging from 0.74 to 0.91, demonstrating satisfactory accuracy. Our results indicated that use of BMs could accurately and precisely be used as a useful tool for predicting carcass characteristics of hair sheep lambs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfaces between Ruminant Nutrition, Ruminant Physiology and Quality of Products)

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12 pages, 291 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Productive Performance, Milk Composition and Milk Fatty Acids of Goats Supplemented with Sunflower and Linseed Whole Seeds in Grass Silage-Based Diets

by Einar Vargas-Bello-Pérez, Carlos Alberto García Montes de Oca, Nazario Pescador Salas, Julieta G. Estrada Flores, José Romero Bernal, Lizbeth Esmeralda Robles-Jimenez and Manuel Gonzalez-Ronquillo

Animals 2020, 10(7), 1143; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10071143 - 6 Jul 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2245

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine productive performance, milk composition and milk fatty acids (FA) of goats supplemented with sunflower and linseed whole seeds in grass silage-based diets. Nine Alpine goats were grouped in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design (n = 3), that included three 21-d periods. Treatments were based on grass silage offered ad libitum and a concentrate mixture supplemented with either 40 g/d of Megalac-R^® (control), 80 g/d of sunflower seed (SF), or 80 g/d of linseed (LS). Dry matter intake (1292 ± 14.0 g/d) and digestibility (g/kg) of dry matter (640 ± 32.1), organic matter (668 ± 32.4), neutral detergent fiber (628 ± 41.4) and acid detergent fiber (567 ± 60.9) was not affected by treatments (p > 0.05). Treatment did not affect milk fat yield (39.9 ± 1.24 g/d), protein content (4.5 ± 0.03 %) and protein yield (34.7 ± 1.22 g/d). Compared to control, SF and LS, decreased C16:0 (28.2 vs. 23.1 and 22.4 g/100 g), and increased total C18:1 (24.1 vs. 27.6 and 28.4 g/100 g) respectively. Overall, SF and LS resulted an effective strategy for altering the FA composition of goat´s milk towards a healthier profile for humans without deleterious effects on animal performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfaces between Ruminant Nutrition, Ruminant Physiology and Quality of Products)

14 pages, 768 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Feeding Lactating Ewes with Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract on Milk Yield, Milk Composition and Preweaning Performance of Ewe/Lamb Pair

by Gabriel Olvera-Aguirre, Miriam Marleny Mendoza-Taco, Darwin Nicolas Arcos-Álvarez, Angel Trinidad Piñeiro-Vázquez, Victor Manuel Moo-Huchin, Jorge Rodolfo Canul-Solís, Luis Castillo-Sánchez, Marco Antonio Ramírez-Bautista, Einar Vargas-Bello-Pérez and Alfonso Juventino Chay-Canul

Animals 2020, 10(7), 1117; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10071117 - 29 Jun 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4654

Abstract

The objective this study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MOE) on milk production and milk composition in ewes and on preweaning performance of their lambs. Twenty-four lactating ewes were housed individually with their lambs and assigned to four groups in a completely randomized design. The treatments included a basal diet without MOE (MOE0) or a basal diet supplemented with either 20 mL MOE per ewe per day (MOE20), 40 mL MOE per ewe per day (MOE40) or 60 mL MOE per ewe per day (MOE60). Over 45 days, milk production was recorded weekly and individual milk samples were collected for chemical analysis. Milk yield, fat-corrected milk and daily yields were similar among the four treatments. The supply of MOE did not affect ewe weaning efficiency and average daily gain or litter weaning weight of the lambs. Overall, the results from this study showed that dietary supplementation of hydroalcoholic extracts of Moringa oleifera leaves at doses of 20, 40 or 60 mL/ewes/d in lactating ewes does not have negative effects on milk yield, milk composition or lamb performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfaces between Ruminant Nutrition, Ruminant Physiology and Quality of Products)

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