Małgorzata Paulina Majewska

Zeolites are ‘magic stones’ with crystalline structures and unique properties, which enable them to selectively adsorb molecules, including gases. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of different types and doses of zeolites on microorganisms, nutrient digestion, and methane production in the rumen. The study was conducted on five two-year-old Jersey heifers (350 kg live weight) fistulated to the rumen in a 5 × 5 Latin square design divided into five feeding groups: control (basal diet), ZN2 (+120 g clinoptilolite/d), ZS2 (+120 g ZP-4A zeolite/d), ZN4 (+240 g clinoptilolite/d), and ZS4 (+240 g ZP-4A zeolite/d). During five periods of the experiment, the samples of the ruminal fluid and digesta were taken before and 3 h after feeding. The pH value, bacteria and methanogens populations, as well as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and methane production in the rumen were not affected after zeolite addition (p > 0.05). ZN2 diet decreased the number of total protozoa by 41.2% (p = 0.023) and Entodinium spp. by 51.1% (p = 0.021), while ZS2, ZN4, and ZS4 diets reduced Diplodinium population by 70.5% (p < 0.001) 3 h after feeding in comparison to the control diet. An increased population of Ophryoscolex spp. was noted in ZN2 and ZS4 cow 3 h after feeding (p < 0.001; 0.15 × 10⁴/mL and 0.08 × 10⁴/mL vs. 0.02 × 10⁴/mL) when compared to control animals. Furthermore, ZS4 diet increased ammonia (p = 0.007; 3.97 mM/L vs. 2.27 mM/L), tryptamine (p = 0.014; 0.009 µmol/g vs. 0.007 µmol/g) and 1.7-diaminoheptane (p < 0.001; 0.016 µmol/g vs. 0.006 µmol/g) concentrations in the rumen, while phenylethylamine level was 90.9% higher in ZN4 cows (p = 0.007), in comparison to control, depending on time. To summarise, zeolites may act in a type- and dose-dependent manner on the protozoa population and indicators of protein degradation.

Leaves, the main by-product of lingonberry harvesting, can be effectively used as a functional feed additive due to their health-promoting properties. This study evaluated the effects of lingonberry leaf (LL) supplementation on rumen fermentation, protozoal populations, and gastrointestinal morphology in sheep. Eight one-year-old Polish Mountain Sheep ewes (mean body weight: 33 kg) were allocated to a control (basal diet; forage-to-concentrate ratio 60:40) or an experimental group (basal diet + 9.30 g/kg DM dried LLs) in a completely randomised design (n = 4 per group) over 34 days. Both diets were formulated to be isoenergetic and isonitrogenous. LL additive significantly reduced Isotrichidae protozoal counts (p < 0.001) and ruminal pectinolytic activity (p = 0.043), without altering short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) or methane concentrations (p > 0.1). Histological analyses showed increased ruminal papilla width and surface area (p < 0.001) and decreased duodenal villus height and muscular layer thickness (p < 0.01). Inflammatory lesions (reddish foci) were identified in the liver in both groups. These findings demonstrate that LL supplementation affected specific protozoal population, fibrolytic activity, and gastrointestinal morphology. Further study on a larger number of animals is recommended to validate the effects and assess the safety and efficacy of LLs as a dietary additive in ruminant nutrition.

Background/Objectives: Although physical activity and balanced diet may increase peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentration, little is known about whether these factors modify BDNF content in physically active individuals and whether the serum fatty acid (FA) profile is related. This study aimed to evaluate quality of diet, identify specific dietary patterns and assess their influence on BDNF and FA levels in serum. It is hypothesized that there is a correlation between diet quality and the concentrations of BDNF and FA in the serum of physically active male individuals. Methods: Physically active young adult male students at Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw (Poland) were enrolled. Dietary patterns were identified with cluster analysis and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) based on responses to a validated food frequency questionnaire, KomPAN^® version 1.1. Results: Consumption of beverages, vegetables, milk, wholemeal bread/rolls, fruit and vegetable juices, butter, tinned vegetables and fruits were significant in the LDA model, in which three clusters were distinguished. Cluster 1 was characterized by more frequent consumption of wholemeal bread/rolls, milk, fruits, vegetables, fruit and vegetable juices and sweetened hot beverages and by significantly greater values for the pro-healthy diet index (p < 0.0001) and diet quality index (p < 0.0001) compared to Clusters 2 and 3. The diet of Cluster 2 was of the worst quality, as indicated by the higher values of the not-healthy diet index. Cluster 1 had the tendency for the highest BDNF levels (of the best quality of diet), and a tendency for decreased BDNF concentration with an increased physical activity level was observed. Conclusions: Physical activity, diet quality and BDNF level depend, correlate and interact with each other to provide both optimal physical and mental health.

The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the effects of different types of zeolites and their contribution in the diet on polysaccharidases activity in the rumen of heifers. Natural and synthetic zeolites and their various amounts (2 and 4% dry matter) were used. The study was...

The aim of this study was to compare the chemical composition of lesser duckweed ( Lemna minor L.) obtained from the natural environment and cultured under laboratory conditions. In the fi rst variant, lesser duckweed was collected from a natural pond (LDN). Subsequently, the plants were cleaned...

The aim of the study was to compare the effect of adding different sources of hydrolysable tannins to the sheep diet on protozoa population and carbohydrate digestion in the rumen. The study was performed in 3 Polish Lowland ewes fistulated to the rumen in a 3 × 3 Latin square design. Control sheep (CON) received (g/d): meadow hay (600), barley meal (300), soybean meal (100) and vitamin-mineral premix (20). Sheep from the experimental groups were additionally administered 12.6 g/kg DM oak bark extract (OAK) and 3.91 g/kg DM tannic acid (TAN ). The net consumption of tannins was approx. 0.4% DM for both additives. Regarding the count of protozoa, a significant interaction between diet and sampling time was documented for all ciliates (PEntodinium spp. (before feeding, 2 and 4 h after feeding; PIsotricha spp. population (4 h after feeding; POphryoscolex spp. after feeding the TAN diet increased before feeding and 2 h after feeding in comparison to the CON and OAK groups, respectively, and subsequently decreased compared to the CON diet (4 and 8 h after feeding, PEntodinium spp., which consequently reduced amylolytic activity in the rumen, without any significant effect on pH and carbohydrate fermentation in the rumen.

The objective of the study was to examine the effect of supplementing sheep diets with humic substances (HS) on the number of protozoa and short chain fatty acid and methane concentrations in the rumen. The experiment was carried out in three rumen-fistulated sheep. The control (CON) ration was...

The aim of the study was to compare two sources of tannins on fatty acids (FA) composition in rumen. Treatments were (g tannins/kg diet as-feed-basis) as follows: (1) no supplemental tannin addition (CON), (2) addition of 13 g of oak bark extract (OAK), and (3) 4 g of tannic acid (TAN). The basal diet contained 55:45 forage to concentrate ratio. Net consumption of tannins (g/d) was 4 g for both tannins sources. The study was performed on three Polish Mountain ewes fitted with rumen cannulas, and was divided into three experimental periods (I, II, and III). Both sampling time and animal diet had a significant effect on FA profile in the rumen fluid. In general, FA concentrations were higher before feeding in comparison to samples collected 2 and 4 h after feeding. In terms of dietary effect, it was shown that TAN addition had a greater influence on FA profile in the ruminal fluid than the OAK diet. Briefly, in the TAN group significantly increased concentrations of C18:2 c9c12 (linoleic acid, LA) 8 h after feeding (vs. control, CON and OAK), C18:3 c9c12c15 (α-linolenic acid, LNA) 4 h after feeding (vs. OAK), C20:3 n-6 before feeding (vs. CON), C20:4 before feeding (vs. CON and OAK) and 8 h after feeding (vs. OAK) were recorded. In contrast, OAK addition significantly reduced C20:3 n-6 concentration 2 h after feeding (vs. CON). In conclusion, increased concentrations of both LA and LNA in the rumen indicated that supplemental tannic acid may inhibit the initial stage of FA biohydrogenation in the rumen.

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the effect of two plant additives, rich in polyphenolic compounds, supplemented to sheep diets on microorganisms and carbohydrate fermentation in rumen. Methods: In the experiment, 6 ewes of the Polish Mountain breed were fitted with ruminal cannulas. Sheep were divided into three feeding groups. The study was performed in a crossover design of two animals in each group, with three experimental periods (n = 6 per each group). The animals were fed a control diet (CON) or additionally received 3 g of dry and milled lingonberry leaves (VVI) or oak bark (QUE). Additionally, plant material was analyzed for tannins concentration. Results: Regardless of sampling time, QUE diet increased the number of total protozoa, as well as Entodinium spp., Diplodinium spp. and Isotrichidae family, while decreased bacterial mass. In turn, a reduced number of Diplodinium spp. and increased Ophryoscolex spp. population were noted in VVI fed sheep. During whole sampling time (0, 2, 4, and 8 h), the number of protozoa in ruminal fluid of QUE sheep was gradually reduced as opposed to animals receiving CON and VVI diet, where rapid shifts in the protozoa number were observed. Moreover, supplementing sheep with QUE diet increased molar proportions of butyrate and isoacids in ruminal fluid. Unfortunately, none of the tested additives affected gas production. Conclusion: The addition of VVI or QUE in a small dose to sheep diets differently affected rumen microorganisms and fermentation parameters, probably because of various contribution of catechins in tested plant materials. However, it is stated that QUE diet seems to create more favorable conditions for growth and development of ciliates. Nonetheless, the results of the present study showed that VVI and QUE additives could serve as potential natural modulators of microorganism populations and, consequently, carbohydrate digestion in ruminants.