Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T19:41:58.307Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effects of malic acid on rumen fermentation, urinary excretion of purine derivatives and feed digestibility in steers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2009

Q. Liu*
Affiliation:
College of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicines, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, PR China
C. Wang
Affiliation:
College of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicines, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, PR China
W. Z. Yang
Affiliation:
College of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicines, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, PR China Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Centre, P.O. Box 3000, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
Q. Dong
Affiliation:
College of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicines, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, PR China
K. H. Dong
Affiliation:
College of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicines, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, PR China
Y. X. Huang
Affiliation:
College of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicines, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, PR China
X. M. Yang
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Science, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Science, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030032, PR China
D. C. He
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Science, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Science, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030032, PR China
Get access

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of malic acid (MA) supplementation on rumen fermentation, urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PDs) and whole gastro-intestinal tract feed digestibility in steers. Eight ruminally cannulated Simmental steers (465 ± 13 kg) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. The treatments were: control (without MA), LMA (MA-low), MMA (MA-medium) and HMA (MA-high) with 0.0, 7.8, 15.6 and 23.4 g MA per kg dry matter (DM), respectively. Diets consisted of corn stover and concentrate (60/40, DM basis). DM intake was approximately 9 kg per day, which was 90% of ad libitum intake including 5.4 kg corn stover and 3.6 kg concentrate. Ruminal pH (range of 6.91 to 6.56), ratio of acetate to propionate (range of 3.88 to 3.25), ammonia N (range of 9.03 to 6.42 mg/100 ml) and lactate (range of 91.25 to 76.31 mg/100 ml) decreased linearly as MA supplementation increased, whereas total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration (range of 55.68 to 61.49 mM) linearly (P < 0.05) increased with increase in MA supplementation. In situ ruminal neutral detergent fiber (aNDF) degradation of corn stover was improved but the crude protein (CP) degradability of concentrate mix was decreased with increasing the dose of MA. Urinary excretion of PDs was quadratically (P < 0.01) changed with altering MA supplementation (67.88, 72.74, 75.81 and 73.78 mmol/day for control, LMA, MMA and HMA, respectively). Similarly, digestibilities of DM, organic matter (OM), NDF and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in the total tract were also quadratically increased with increasing MA, and no differences in terms of CP and ether extract digestibility were observed. The results indicate that MA supplementation has the potential to improve rumen fermentation and feed digestion in beef cattle. The MA stimulates the digestive microorganisms or enzymes in a quadratic response. In the experimental conditions of this trial, the optimum MA dose was 15.6 g MA per kg DM.

Type
Full Paper
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Association of Official Analytical Chemists 1990. Official methods of analysis, 14th edition. AOAC, Arlington, VA.Google Scholar
Callaway, TR, Martin, SA 1996. Effects of organic acid and monensin treatment on in vitro mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation of cracked corn. Journal of Animal Science 74, 19821989.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Callaway, TR, Martin, SA, Wampler, JL, Hill, NS, Hill, GM 1997. Malate content of forage varieties commonly fed to cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 80, 16511655.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carro, MD, Ranilla, MJ 2003. Effect of the addition of malate on in vitro rumen fermentation of cereal grains. British Journal of Nutrition 89, 181188.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carro, MD, López, S, Valdés, C, Overjero, FJ 1999. Effect of dl-malate on mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation using the rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC). Animal Feed Science and Technology 79, 279288.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carro, MD, Ranilla, MJ, Giráldez, FJ, Mantecón, AR 2006. Effects of malate on diet digestibility, microbial protein synthesis, plasma metabolites, and performance of growing lambs fed a high-concentrate diet. Journal of Animal Science 84, 405410.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Casewell, M, Friis, C, Marco, E, McMullin, P, Phillips, I 2003. The European ban on growth-promoting antibiotics and emerging consequences for human and animal health. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 52, 159161.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Castillo, C, Beneditio, JL, Méndez, J, Pereira, V, López-Alonso, M, Miranda, M, Hernández, J 2004. Organic acids as a substitute for monensin in diets for beef cattle. Animal Feed Science and Technology 115, 101116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Castillo, C, Benedito, JL, Pereira, V, Vázquez, P, López Alonso, M, Méndez, J, Hernández, J 2007. Malic acid supplementation in growing/finishing feedlot bull calves: influence of chemical form on blood acid–base balance and productive performance. Animal Feed Science and Technology 135, 222235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dennis, SM, Nagaraja, TG, Bartley, EE 1981. Effects of lasalocid or monensin on lactate-producing or -using rumen bacteria. Journal of Animal Science 52, 418426.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gartner, RJW, O’Rourke, PK 1997. Effects of antibiotics, dried molasses distillers solubles and zeranol in all-sorghum grain rations fed to steers. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 17, 214223.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gómez, JA, Tejido, ML, Carro, MD 2004. Effects of disodium malate on microbial growth and rumen fermentation of two diets in Rusitec fermenters. Journal of Animal and Feed Science 13 (suppl. 1), 7174.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gómez, JA, Tejido, ML, Carro, MD 2005. Influence of disodium malate on microbial growth and fermentation in rumen-simulation technique fermenters receiving medium- and high-concentrate diets. British Journal of Nutrition 93, 479484.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hobbs, CS, Hansard, SL, Barrick, ER 1950. Simplified methods and equipment used in separation of urine from feces eliminated by heifers and by steers. Journal of Animal Science 9, 565570.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
International Atomic Energy Agency 1997. Estimation of rumen microbial protein production from purine derivatives in urine. IAEA-TECDOC-945, pp. 22–24. IAEA, Vienna.Google Scholar
Kung, L Jr, Huber, JT, Krummrey, JD, Allison, L, Cook, RM 1982. Influence of adding malic acid to dairy cattle rations on milk production, rumen volatile acids, digestibility, and nitrogen utilization. Journal of Dairy Science 65, 11701174.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Linehan, B, Scheifinger, CC, Wolin, MJ 1978. Nutritional requirements of Selenomonas ruminantium for growth on lactate, glycerol, or glucose. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 35, 317322.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Liu, Q, Wang, C, Huang, YX, Dong, KH, Yang, WZ, Wang, H 2008. Effects of Lanthanum on rumen fermentation, urinary excretion of purine derivatives and digestibility in steers. Animal Feed Science and Technology 142, 121132.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, SA, Streeter, MN 1995. Effect of malate on in vitro mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation. Journal of Animal Science 73, 21412145.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Martin, SA, Streeter, MN, Nisbet, DJ, Hill, GM, Williams, SE 1999. Effects of dl-malate on ruminal metabolism and performance of cattle fed a high-concentrate diet. Journal of Animal Science 77, 10081015.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Martin, SA, Sullivan, HM, Evans, JD 2000. Effect of sugars and malate on ruminal microorganisms. Journal of Dairy Science 83, 25742579.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McDonald, I 1981. A revised model for the estimation of protein degradability in the rumen. Journal of Agricultural Science (Cambridge) 96, 251252.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Montaño, MF, Chai, W, Zinn-Ware, TE, Zinn, RA 1999. Influence of malic acid supplementation on ruminal pH, lactic acid utilization, and digestive function in steers fed high-concentrate finishing diets. Journal of Animal Science 77, 780784.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nisbet, DJ, Martin, SA 1991. Effect of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture on lactate utilization by the ruminal bacterium Selenomonas ruminantium. Journal of Animal Science 69, 46284633.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nisbet, DJ, Martin, SA 1993. Effects of fumarate, l-malate, and an Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract on d-lactate utilization by the ruminal bacterium Selenomonas ruminantium. Current Microbiology 26, 133136.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nisbet, DJ, Martin, SA 1994. Factors affecting l-lactate utilization by Selenomonas ruminantium. Journal of Animal Science 72, 13551361.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ørskov, ER, DeB Hovell, FD, Mould, F 1980. The use of the nylon bag technique for the evaluation of feedstuffs. Tropical Animal Production 5, 195213.Google Scholar
Parker, DS, Armstro, DG 1987. Antibiotic feed additives and livestock production. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 46, 415421.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Russell, JB, Strobel, HJ 1989. Effect of ionophores on ruminal fermentation. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 55, 16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Russell, JB, O’Connor, JD, Fox, DG, Van Soest, PJ, Sniffen, CJ 1992. A net carbohydrate and protein system for evaluating cattle diets: I. Ruminal fermentation. Journal of Animal Science 70, 35513561.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sanson, DW, Stallcup, OT 1984. Growth response and serum constituents of Holstein bulls fed malic acid. Nutrition Reports International 30, 12611267.Google Scholar
SAS 1996. SAS user’s guide: statistics, version 7 edition. SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC.Google Scholar
Satter, LD, Slyter, LL 1974. Effect of ammonia concentration on rumen microbial protein production in vitro. British Journal of Nutrition 32, 199208.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sniffen, CJ, Ballard, CS, Carter, MP, Cotanch, KW, Danna, HM, Grant, RJ, Mandebvu, P, Suekawa, M, Martin, SA 2006. Effects of malic acid on microbial efficiency and metabolism in continuous culture of rumen contents and on performance of mid-lactation dairy cows. Animal Feed Science and Technology 127, 1331.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Solomons, A 1978. Antibiotics in animal feeds – human and animal safety issues. Journal of Animal Science 46, 13601368.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Streeter, MN, Nisbet, DJ, Martin, SA, Williams, SE 1994. Effect of malate on ruminal metabolism and performance of steers fed a high concentrate diet. Journal of Animal Science 72 (suppl. 1), 384.Google Scholar
Strobel, HJ, Russell, JB 1991. Succinate transport by a ruminal selenomonad and its regulation by carbohydrate availability and osmotic strength. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 57, 248254.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tejido, ML, Ranilla, MJ, García-Martinez, R, Carro, MD 2005. In vitro microbial growth and rumen fermentation of different substrates as affected by the addition of disodium malate. Animal Science 81, 3138.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Soest, PJ, Robertson, JB, Lewis, BA 1991. Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber and non-starch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science 74, 35833597.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yang, WZ, Beauchemin, KA, Koenig, KM, Rode, LM 1997. Comparison of hull-less barley, barley, or corn for lactating cows: effects on extent of digestion and milk production. Journal of Dairy Science 80, 24752486.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed