<div>Background: Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), widely used probiotics, was found to increase the utilization of fiber and improve the production in ruminants. The concept of chromium (Cr) supplementation has also received a great deal of attention since past decade, as Cr could have supra-physiological benefits for domestic livestock. The present in vitro experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary chromium and yeast supplementation on in-vitro dry matter degradability and rumen fermentation by rumen simulation technique.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (Y) (5 x 109 CFU /kg) and chromium (Cr) (1.5 mg/kg) supplementation to sorghum stover based complete diets (Basal diet: 10.58% CP) either alone or in combination on in vitro nutrient degradability and rumen fermentation was assessed by rumen simulation technique. 
 
Result: Chromium supplementation alone did not affect the cumulative degradability and effective dry matter degradability in vitro compared to BD. Yeast supplementation enhanced (P&lt;0.01) in vitro DM degradability on 12, 24 and 48 h, effective DM degradability and lowered (P&lt;0.01) ammonia nitrogen level in comparison to control. When compared to control, combination of yeast and Cr positively affected rumen fermentation pattern and in vitro nutrient degradability but no further improvement was observed compared to only yeast supplementation in diet.</div>

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Chromium and Yeast on in vitro Dry Matter Degradability and Rumen Fermentation Pattern

<div>Background: Legume residues such as leaves from cowpea and lablab plants can be accumulated in large quantities after fruits harvesting. These legumes can be incorporated in ruminants&rsquo; diets due to their high feeding value. They are rich in crude protein, vitamins and minerals when compared to grasses that normally deteriorate during dry seasons. This paper is focusing on determining effect of legume residues and maize straws on in vitro dry matter degradability (IVDMD) and palatability indices in ruminants. 
 
Methods: For palatability experiment, each of five male boer goats was provided with four feeding troughs carrying&nbsp; four different feeds (maize straws and 3 legumes =&nbsp;Lablab purpureus - lablab and 2 Vigna unguiculata - cowpeas - Dr Saunders and Betswit). The legume residues and maize straws were also analyzed for chemical composition and IVDMD. All data was subjected to a one-way analysis of variance.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Dr Saunders (230.7 g/kg DM) had the highest (P&lt;0.05) crude protein content when compared to all diets. Lablab (126.3 g/kg DM) had the lowest (P&lt;0.05) acid detergent lignin. The highest (P&lt;0.05) condensed tannins concentrations (50.1 g/kg DM) was recorded for Betswit. The highest (P&lt;0.05) in vitro dry matter degradability was recorded for lablab at 24 up to 72 hrs. Lablab had a higher palatability index (P&lt;0.05) when compared to other diets. Intake (r2 = 0.955) and palatability index (r2 = 0.971) were positively and significantly (P&lt;0.05) predicted from total phenolics on goats. Though lablab had better values in most parameters measured, all legumes can be highly recommended to supplement low-quality roughages such as maize straws and grasses.</div>

Proximate Analysis, in vitro Dry Matter Degradability and Palatability Index of Legume Residues and Maize Straws for Ruminants

Background: Peanut oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and plays an important role in human and animal health. PUFAs are generally undergo to the biohydrogenation (BH) process by the rumen microbes. The single-layer emulsion encapsulation has been used in sheep diet. However, a limited reference was found concerning double-layer techniques to protect the essential PUFAs from BH process in the rumen. 
 
Methods: EDLEPO was made with a matrix of peanut oil, whey protein isolate (WPI), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and maltodextrin at 40: 2.5: 7.5: 55. The first layer was the binding of WPI with peanut oil and the second layer is the binding of WPI with MCC. Moreover, the in vitro experiment was designed with 5 treatments separated by CON group (0 g/kg EDLEPO) and experimental groups which are leveled by EDLEPO inclusion (25, 50, 75 and 100 g/kg levels of EDLEPO) in the buffered sheep&rsquo;s rumen. 
 
Result: Increased levels of EDLEPO inclusion reduced rumen ammonia-N concentration (P&lt;0.05) by a linear response. Hence, increased levels of EDLEPO inclusion increased rumen degradability rates expressed as IVDMD and IVOMD up to 12% and 9%, respectively, by a linear response (P&lt;0.05). No significant differences were found between treatments on pH value, VFAs and total gas production. However, the increased levels of EDLEPO inclusion reduced CH4&nbsp;concentration expressed as CH4/IVDMD and CH4/IVOMD up to 9% and 17% (P&lt;0.05). It can be concluded that the EDLEPO inclusion in the diet increased in vitro rumen degradability rates with no negative effects on the rumen fermentation profile.

The Effects of Encapsulation and Double-layer Emulsion of Peanut Oil on in vitro Rumen Degradability Rates and Fermentation Profile in Sheep

<div>Background: Cypermethrin is used extensively to kill the pests that decreases the crop yield. Excessive use of cypermethrin results in soil and water contamination, thus affecting soil microflora and the aquatic life. Thus, removal of cypermethrin is particularly important. Different physical and chemical methods are available for the cypermethrin removal but are time consuming and costly. So, microbial degradation of cypermethrin is important. The present study aimed to isolate and identify cypermethrin degrading organisms, detection of the cypermethrin degradation product by GC- MS analysis and detection of residual amount of cypermethrin from the medium. 
 
Methods: In this laboratory investigation, soil samples were collected from different farms and isolation and identification of microorganisms capable of cypermethrin degradation was performed. Further, detection of residual cypermethrin concentration, cod value and cypermethrin degradation products using GC- MS analysis was performed. 
 
Result: Cypermethrin degrading microorganisms were isolated and identified as P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae. These microorganisms degraded 200mg\lit cypermethrin and the cypermethrin degradation products were detected and identified by comparing with the standard database. Residual amount of cypermethrin was detected from the medium by colorimetric method. Residual cypermethrin concentration was decreased with time in the test indicating cypermethrin degradation ability of the P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae. Further, COD value was determined and COD value was found to be decreased in the medium in presence of P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae indicating cypermethrin removal.&nbsp;</div>

<div>Degradation of Pyrethroid Insecticide- cypermethrin (25% EC) using Soil Microorganisms and Detection of Degradation Products</div>

APBN1, a variety of hybrid napier was analysed at five stages of harvest (30, 40, 45, 50 and 60 days) for yield, leaf to stem ratio, chemical composition, in vitro dry matter digestibility, in sacco dry matter and protein degradation to find out optimum stage of harvesting. The yield of green fodder, dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) (MT/ ha/year) of forage harvested at 30, 40, 45, 50 and 60 days of growth ranged from 274.68 to 387.95, 47.35 to 98.81, 7.44 to 11.45, respectively. Highest (P&lt;0.05) CP yield (11.45 MT/ha) and nitrogen free extract content (46.12%) was observed at 45 d of growth. Crude protein (15.72 to 11.34%), ether extract (3.65 to 2.26%) decreased, whereas total ash (10.88 to 13.86%), crude fibre (23.81 to 29.88%) and acid insoluble ash (3.92 to 5.14%) levels increased when forage was allowed to grow from 30 to 60 d. Similarly, NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin and silica levels also increased gradually as plant matures. The in vitro dry matter digestibility was maximum (57.87%) at 30 d and minimum (51.40%) at 60 d of growth. Effective dry matter and protein degradability decreased from 55.80 to 43.78 and from 38.30 to 33.17 per cent, respectively as plant matured from 30 to 60 days. The insoluble but degradable protein fraction &lsquo;b&rsquo; was highest (77.07%) at 45 d of growth. Based on the biomass yield, leaf to stem ratio, chemical, in vitro and in sacco evaluation, the optimum stage of harvesting for APBN1 forage was found to be at 45 d of growth. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Effect of stage of harvest on the yield, chemical composition, in vitro and in sacco digestibility of hybrid napier (Penniserum purpureum) variety APB N1 
&nbsp;

<div>Although, Karanj (Pongamia glabra) cake is an important proteinaceous feed resource for livestock but the presence of toxic principles such as karanjin, pongamol and trypsin inhibitors in raw solvent extracted karanj cake restricts its comprehensive use as safe animal feed resources. In the present investigation solvent extracted raw karanj cake was subjected to in vitro studies by incorporation in the concentrate mixture at four graded levels replacing soy bean meal on protein equivalent basis (25, 50, 75 and 100%) in order to understand the rumen fermentation pattern. The inclusion of graded levels of solvent extracted raw karanj cake in the concentrate mixture replacing protein in SBM even at 100% resulted no significant difference in rumen in vitro fermentation pattern in terms of substrate degradation and gas volume produced in 24 h, truly degradable organic matter in rumen (TDOMR; mg/ 200mg), TDOMR%, microbial biomass production (MBP; mg/200mg), efficiency of microbial biomass production (MBP/100mg TDOMR) and partitioning factor (PF).</div>

<div>In vitro fermentation studies of ruminant diets replacing soybean meal with different levels of solvent extracted raw Karanj (Pongamia glabra) cake</div>

<div>The objectives of this study were to determine the chemical composition and dry matter digestibility of Quercus resinosa leaves harvested at different seasons of the year and to assess the intake and palatability of lamb diets containing foliage of Q. resinosa. There were three sites of collection, two located in the state of Jalisco and one in the state of Zacatecas, M&eacute;xico. The young leaves harvested in spring, had greatest (P &lt;0.05) nutritional value than leaves harvested in other seasons. The in vitro digestibility of organic matter (IVOMD), rapidly degradable fraction (a) and the degradation rate (c) were greater (P &lt;0.05) in leaves harvested in spring and winter. The slowly degradable fraction (b) was greater (P &lt;0.05) in spring, summer and autumn, and lesser in winter. The potential degradation fraction (a + b) and the effective degradability of dry matter were maximized (P &lt;0.05) in spring than in the other seasons. The consumption was similar (P &gt;0.05) among diets with different inclusion levels of leaves, but sheep consumed greater (P &lt;0.05) amounts of diet containing leaves collected in spring. In conclusion, the Q. resinosa foliage contains the nutritional value and the digestibility and palatability that makes it suitable to replace completely the forage in the fattening diets of sheep, being preferable to use leaves harvested in spring and winter.</div>

<div>Chemical composition, in vitro and in situ dry matter digestibility and preference of Quercus resinosa foliage</div>

<div>Soil is a critical resource for the future of humanity. India&rsquo;s total geographical area (328.7 Mha) is projected to be degraded by 147 million hectares (Mha). This is particularly concerning because India is home to 18 per cent of the world&rsquo;s population but only has 2.4 per cent of the world&rsquo;s land area. Soil degradation is characterized as processes that cause soil quality to deteriorate and make it less suitable for a specific purpose, such as crop production. Soil erosion, a degradation process, can take place anywhere from a few years to centuries and this changes the soil&rsquo;s composition and humus content. The process of soil retrogression is pedogenically induced and it is caused by the loss of nitrogen, ecosystem efficiency and standing plant biomass and it can only be reversed by a rejuvenating disruption that resets the mechanism. Retrogression occurs over time scales ranging from thousands to millions of years. The decrease in biomass over long time scale distinguishes retrogression from degradation. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) developed the conceptual framework for Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), to provide a scientific approach to planning, implementing and monitoring LDN. Soil retrogression and degradation are two regressive processes. It is critical to prioritize soil health in decisions taken to tackle deterioration and the value of soil as the source and destination of everything should be reaffirmed once more.</div>

Soil Degradation vs Soil Retrogression: A Review

<div>Background: The in-vitro nutrient digestibility and fermentation mimicking gastrointestinal process of pigs is a convenient method for rapid and cheaper measurement of degradation of feed ingredients. In the present study silage based diets containing varying levels of crude fibre were subjected to in vitro digestibility evaluation using pig faecal inoculum to determine the best crude fibre level for feeding pigs.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Eight diets were prepared namely, B1, B2, V1, V2, V3, M1, M2 and M3 having 6.28, 8.43, 8.03, 10.0, 11.96, 8.17, 10.31 and 12.06 per cent crude fibre (on dry matter basis) respectively, where diets B1 and B2 were basal diets, V1, V2 and V3 contained vegetable waste silage; M1, M2 and M3 contained maize silage -as additional fibre source. An in-vitro study was carried out to investigate the nutrient digestibility of diets involving enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation using pig faecal inoculum. 
 
Result: The in-vitro total tract digestibility (IVTTD) of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and organic matter (OM) was significantly higher (P&lt;0.001) in B1 diet than the other diets. The digestibility of DM, CP and OM of B2 diet was also significantly higher (p&lt;0.001) than the M2, M3, V2 and V3 diets but comparable to M1 and V1 diets. The IVTTD of crude fibre (CF) was higher in V3 diet (25.85%) and lowest (P&lt;0.001) in M1 diet (11.65%) and both showed a highly significant (P&lt;0.001) difference (to other diets. The DM, CP and OM digestibility were significantly higher (P&lt;0.001) in the diets containing normal fibre sources than silage containing diets. Cumulative gas production (ml/0.5g feed) at 24 h of in-vitro fermentation were significantly higher (P&lt;0.001) in B2 (34.95) and B1 (31.00) diets than other diets. As the CF level in diets increased from 6 to 12%, the digestibility of nutrients linearly decreased except CF digestibility. It was revealed from the study that the level and sources of crude fibre in diets influenced the digestibility of nutrients.</div>

Determination of In vitro Nutrient Digestibility of Silage based Diets with Varying Levels of Crude Fibre using Pig Faecal Inoculum

<div>Background: Crop residues play a central role in ruminant&rsquo;s diet in developing countries. Due to low in nutritional quality, there is limitation in ruminant production through feeding of these residues. Therefore, production of quality crop residues through plant breeding programme without conceding grain yield is of prime importance. The present experiment envisaged the feeding value of stovers from three different novel sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) cultivars by in vitro fermentation pattern, gas production, microbial abundance and ruminal enzyme production in buffalo.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Stovers from three different genotypes of sorghum cultivars viz. normal sorghum (CSV-27), brown midrib (bmr) sorghum (SPV-2018) and sweet sorghum (CSH 22SS) were analyzed for proximate principles and fibre fractions. Each stover sample was incubated (200 &plusmn; 5 mg) with 30 ml buffered rumen fluid in 100 ml calibrated glass syringes at 39&ordm;C for 24 h following in vitro gas production system using rumen liquor from Murrah buffaloes. The gas production in each syringe was recorded during incubation at 4, 8, 12, 18 and 24 h intervals. Incubations were terminated at 24 h and methane concentration in the head space gas from syringes incubated with each stover sample was analyzed. Supernatant of each syringe contents was analyzed for volatile fatty acids (VFA) estimation. Truly degradable dry matter (TDDM) was determined and microbial biomass production (MBP) and portioning factor (PF) was calculated. Ruminal fibrolytic enzyme production and microbial abundance in each syringe content was estimated.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The stover of bmr sorghum showed highest organic matter, followed by normal sorghum and lowest in sweet sorghum. The neural detergent fibre (NDF) ranges between 69.22 to 74.65%, with highest in bmr sorghum and lowest in sweet sorghum. The stover sample of bmr sorghum contained lowest (P&lt;0.05) acid detergent fibre (ADF) among the three cultivars examined, which resulted with highest (P&lt;0.05) hemicellulose (37.72%) content. Lowest acid detergent lignin (ADL) was found in stovers of bmr cultivar (1.27%) and highest in sweet sorghum (8.36%). The fermentation pattern of bmr sorghum stovers exhibited higher (P&lt;0.05) total gas production, dry matter degradability, VFA production, ruminal enzymes (CMCase, xylanase, acetyl esterase) and abundance of total ruminal bacterial population than normal and sweet sorghum stovers. Therefore, this study establishes the enhanced feeding value of stovers from bmr sorghum cultivar compared to normal and sweet sorghum cultivars for ruminant production.</div>

<div>Exploring Feeding Potential of Stovers from Novel Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) Cultivars by In vitro Fermentation Pattern, Gas Production, Microbial Abundance and Ruminal Enzyme Production in Buffalo</div>