The Role of Zinc, Manganse and Copper in Rumen Metabolism and Immune Function: A Review Article

Trace minerals are dietary elements required by the body in minute amounts, ranging from 0.10 to 50.0 mg/kg dry matter in beef cattle diets [1]. These trace minerals are all necessary for the biochemical processes of the body that support proper growth and maintenance. For example, Cu is necessary for the function of superoxide dismutase and its removal of toxic byproducts from metabolic pathways [2]. The removal of these toxic byproducts allows for metabolism to proceed efficiently, uninhibited by damaging oxygen free radicals. Zinc, an important trace mineral for enzyme function, aides in the regulation of nucleic acid production, carbohydrate metabolism, and protein synthesis, thus providing a stable framework for development [3]. The immune system is part of the host’s defense against destructive forces from outside the body, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, or from within, such as malignant cells or those that produce autoantibodies [4]. This system is composed of two branches: the innate or non-specific immune system, and the adaptive or specific immune system [5]. In this review paper, an attempt has been made to review effects of mineral supplements in Rumen Metabolism, effects on Immune Function in different species of animals.

Study on histo-biochemical biomarkers of chromium induced toxicity in Labeo rohita

Aquatic environment gets highly polluted due to the presence of heavy metals,which are usually discharged into water bodies because of rapid industrialization.The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of chromium toxicity on histo-biochemical biomarkers of Labeo rohita.A total of 240 randomly selected fish were distributed into four aquaria(n=20).Three groups designated as T_(1),T_(2) and T_(3) were exposed with 1/3rd,1/5th and 1/10th of LC_(50) of chromium chloride,and the fourth group was chromium-free control(T0).Results showed a significant(p<0.05)decrease in blood parameters such as hematocrit,red blood cells,hemoglobin,mean cell hemoglobin and platelets.In contrast,mean cell volume and white blood cell values increased significantly.The results obtained by comet assay showed that DNA damage was increased significantly(p<0.05)in chromium-exposed groups compared to the control.At the histopathological level,observed alterations in the gill tissues are degeneration of epithelium,fusion of secondary lamellae,lamellar curling,hypertrophy,telangiectasis and oedema,while in the liver is necrosis,dilation of the vein,congestion of blood vessels,hepatocytes degeneration,melano-macrophage centers,pigmentation and hemorrhage.In the kidney,histological alterations such as glomerular destruction,necrosis,damaged blood vessels,oedema and pigmentation were seen.Those results suggest that chromium has the ability to bring variations DNA integrity,histopathology and blood of Labeo rohita.

Effects of feeding whole linseed on ruminal fatty acid composition and microbial population in goats

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of feeding different levels of whole linseed,as a source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA), on ruminal fatty acid composition and microbial population in the goat. Twenty-four crossbred Boer goats were assigned to 3 dietary treatments: LO(control), L10 and L20 containing 0,10%, or 20% whole linseed, respectively. The ruminal pH and concentration of total volatile fatty acids(VFA) were not affected by dietary treatments. The feeding of L10 and L20 diets produced higher(P < 0.05) molar proportions of acetate and lower(P < 0.05) molar proportions of butyrate and valerate than the LO diet. Molar proportions of myristic acid(C14:0) and palmitic acid(C16:0) were lower(P < 0.05) in the rumen of goats offered L10 and L20 diets than the control diet. However, stearic acid(C18:0), vaccenic acid(C18:1 trans-11), conjugated linoleic acid(CLA,C18:2 trans-10, cis-12) and a-lenolenic acid(C18:3 n-3) were higher(P < 0.05) in the rumen of goats fed L10 and L20 than L0. Both inclusion levels of linseed in the diet(L10 and L20) reduced the ruminal total bacteria, methanogens, and protozoa compared with LO(P < 0.05). The effect of the dietary treatments on cellulolytic bacteria, varied between the individual species. Both inclusion levels of linseed resulted in a significant decrease(P < 0.05) in the population of Fibrobacter succinogenes, and Rumunococus flavefaciens compared with LO, with no significant difference between the groups fed linseed diets. The population of Rumunococus albus was not affected by the different dietary treatments. It was concluded that inclusion of whole linseed in the diet of goats could increase the concentration of PUFA in the rumen, and decrease the population of F. succinogenes, R. flavefaciens, methanogens and protozoa in rumen liquid of goats.

Comparative Analysis of Polyphenolic and Antioxidant Constituents in Dried Seedlings and Seedless Acacia nilotica Fruits

The phenolic and antioxidant constituents in Acacia nilotica fruits have become an important source of medicinal and thera-peutic benefit with powerful biological properties.This study investigated the phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of powdered Acacia fruits with seeds and without seeds.The phenolic content and antioxidant capacities in them were deter-mined using Folin-Ciocalteu and DPPH free radical-scavenging assays.The total phenolic and antioxidants of A.nilotica with seeds were spectrophotometrically determined to be 47.61 and 6.18%greater than when the seeds were removed from the dried fruits,respectively.The LC-MS/QTOF analysis shows the presence of 282 and 214 phenolic compounds in the methanol extracts of A.nilotica with seeds and without seeds,respectively.The present study,therefore,revealed that dried A.nilotica fruits with seeds have higher total phenolic content,antioxidant capacity,and bioactive constituents,which indi-cated that they have more medicinal value than fruits without seeds.

Accuracy of two optical chlorophyll meters in predicting chemical composition and in vitro ruminal organic matter degradability of Brachiaria hybrid,Megathyrsus maximus, and Paspalum atratum

The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy and reliability of 2 optical chlorophyll meters:FieldScout CM 1,000 NDVI and Yara N-Tester, in predicting neutral detergent fibre(NDF), acid detergent fibre(ADF), acid detergent lignin(ADL), acid detergent insoluble nitrogen(ADIN) and in vitro ruminal organic matter degradability(IVOMD) of 3 tropical grasses. Optical chlorophyll measurements were taken at 3 stages(4, 8 and 12 weeks) of regrowth in Brachiaria hybrid, and Megathyrsus maximus and at 6 and 12 weeks of regrowth in Paspalum atratum(cv. Ubon). Optical chlorophyll measurements showed the highest correlation(r = 0.57 to 0.85) with NDF concentration. The FieldScout CM 1,000 NDVI was better than the Yara N-Tester in predicting NDF(R^2 = 0.70) and ADF(R^2 = 0.79) concentrations in Brachiaria hybrid and NDF(R^2 = 0.79) in M. maximus. Similarly, FieldScout CM 1,000 NDVI produced better estimates of 24 h IVOMD(IVOMD_(24 h)) in Brachiaria hybrid(R^2 = 0.81) and IVOMD_(48 h) in Brachiaria hybrid(R^2 = 0.65) and M. maximus(R^2 = 0.75). However, these prediction models had relatively low concordance correlation coefficients, i.e., CCC >0.90, but random errors were the main source of bias. It was,therefore, concluded that both optical chlorophyll meters were poor and unreliable predictors of ADIN and ADL concentrations. Overall, the FieldScout CM 1,000 NDVI shows potential to produce useful estimates of IVOMD_(24h) and ADF in Brachiaria hybrid and IVOMD_(48 h) and NDF concentrations in M. maximus.