Navigation Links
Hops helps reduce ammonia produced by cattle
Date:4/20/2010

An Agricultural Research Service (ARS ) scientist may have found a way to cut the amount of ammonia produced by cattle. To do it, he's using a key ingredient of the brewer's art: hops.

Cattle, deer, sheep, goats and other ruminant animals depend on a slew of naturally occurring bacteria to aid digestion of grass and other fibrous plants in the first of their four stomach chambers, known as the rumen.

The problem, according to ARS microbiologist Michael Flythe, comes from one group of bacteria, known as hyper-ammonia-producing bacteria, or HABs. While other bacteria are helping their bovine hosts convert plant fibers to cud, HABs are breaking down amino acids, a chemical process that produces ammonia and robs the animals of the amino acids they need to build muscle tissue, according to Flythe, who works at the ARS Forage Animal Production Research Unit (FAPRU) in Lexington, Ky.

To make up for lost amino acids, cattle growers have to add expensive and inefficient high-protein supplements to their animals' feed.

According to Flythe, hops can reduce HAB populations. Hops, a natural preservative, were originally added to beer to limit bacterial growth.

Flythe put either dried hops flowers or hops extracts in either cultures of pure HAB or a bacterial mix collected from a live cow's rumen. Both the hops flowers and the extracts inhibited HAB growth and ammonia production.

Flythe and FAPRU plant physiologist Isabelle Kagan have completed a similar project with more typical forage. They recently identified a compound in red clover that inhibits HAB. Results of that study were published recently in Current Microbiology.

Flythe also collaborated with FAPRU animal scientist Glen Aiken on a study in which hops had a positive effect on the rumen's volatile fatty acid ratios, which are important to ruminant nutrition.


'/>"/>

Contact: Chris Guy
Chris.Guy@ars.usda.gov
301-504-1654
United States Department of Agriculture-Research, Education, and Economics
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1

Related biology news :

1. Natural chemical found in broccoli helps combat skin blistering disease
2. Device helps patients survive, regain function til transplant
3. Presence of gene mutation helps guide thyroid cancer treatment
4. CABI helps phase out dangerous pesticide in EU
5. Diet support helps chronic kidney patients
6. Argonne helps China create cleaner Beijing for 2008 Olympics
7. A tiny pinch from a z-ring helps bacteria cells divide
8. Ultraviolet light helps to secure water supply
9. MSU researcher helps develop computer game for Ugandan children recovering from cerebral malaria
10. Handbook helps parents deal with childhood infections
11. NASA technology helps predict and prevent future pandemic outbreaks
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/16/2013)... are about 23 million years old give unprecedented ... order, one of the most species-rich groups among ... paleontologist Professor Bettina Reichenbacher from the Division of ... and Environmental Sciences at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich ... fish fossils which they assign to the group ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... analysis (GWA), where the entirety of an individual,s DNA ... variants which can cause health problems is a massively ... also pose major ethical problems if used incorrectly, say ... (ESHG) published on line today (16 May 2013) in ... services based on whole genome and on exome* sequencing ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... working in Cameroon and the manager of San Diego ... the prestigious Whitley award. The Whitley award is ... Oscars" because it celebrates the extraordinary achievements of some ... Abwe was selected for the award due to ... Forest and its wildlife inhabitants., HRH The Princess Royal, ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Paleontology: The eloquence of the otoliths 2Paleontology: The eloquence of the otoliths 3European Society of Human Genetics urges caution over use of new genetic sequencing techniques 2Cameroon researcher wins prestigious 'Green Oscar' 2Cameroon researcher wins prestigious 'Green Oscar' 3
... those seeking to understand and manage ecosystems, a key ... variation is essential for ecological sustainability over time. Now ... It,s been more than 20 years since H. ... America and Regents Professor Emeritus of Ecology at the ...
... percent of the energy produced by cars, machines, and industry ... age-old problem - but researchers have found a new way ... potentially save vast amounts of energy. And it,s based ... a microwave oven. Chemists at Oregon State University have ...
... AUSTIN, Texas Marine biologists at The University of ... to efficiently breed saltwater aquarium fish, seahorses, plankton and ... rich ecosystems of the world,s coral reefs. ... around the world, could help shift much of the ...
Cached Biology News:New book explores the evolution of a key scientific idea 2Microwave ovens a key to energy production from wasted heat 2Microwave ovens a key to energy production from wasted heat 3Captive breeding could transform the saltwater aquarium trade and save coral reefs 2Captive breeding could transform the saltwater aquarium trade and save coral reefs 3
(Date:5/17/2013)...  Yongye International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YONG ) ... distributor of crop nutrient products in the ... on May 16, 2013, the special committee (the "Special ... Directors") was provided a letter (the "Letter") issued by ... Limited ("Abax") to Full Alliance International Limited ("Full Alliance"). ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... (PRWEB) May 17, 2013 The paradigm ... complex biological systems that can help predict the adverse ... Dr. Sergey Stepaniants, Head of Computational Biology at the ... biology tools to ensure high-quality genomics when used as ... be applied to complex data sets to identify key ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... Darrington, WA (PRWEB) May 17, 2013 Tooth ... 5th graders showing active signs of the disease. The World ... children and nearly 100% of adults have cavities. What are ... Research is showing a strong connection between the oral ... why is this disease so rampant, yet it is also ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... In late 2012, Dr. Sarah Hart, of Palm Clinic ... about Appearance Medicine . Although Dr. Hart regularly teaches ... to lecture in China, and quite a different experience it ... 12 and 7 million people respectively. Interest in cosmetic facial ... in time. As Dr. Hart passed through the Fuzhou airport ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Yongye International Provides Update on Status of Proposed Go Private Offer 2Yongye International Provides Update on Status of Proposed Go Private Offer 3Yongye International Provides Update on Status of Proposed Go Private Offer 4Seeing the Future: How a Revolutionary New Bacterial Screening Device Can Predict a Patient’s Future for Tooth Decay 2Seeing the Future: How a Revolutionary New Bacterial Screening Device Can Predict a Patient’s Future for Tooth Decay 3
... On most issues, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and former ... to touting the advantages of electronic health records, however, ... screen. , ,Doyles two-year state budget includes $10 million ... over to electronic health records, a move that could ...
... talk a good game about interpersonal skills, influence and collaboration, ... pretty clear chain of command that runs right down the ... at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Annie Stunden manages ... more staff with IT responsibilities in other departments on campus, ...
... week, we looked at venture capital performance in the U.S. during ... the Midwest garnered its share of this investment as well as ... give you a more detailed look at how the life science ... from the PricewaterhouseCoopers MoneyTree report. , ,Still, I was able ...
Cached Biology Technology:Electronic health records can save lives and improve medical care 2Electronic health records can save lives and improve medical care 3Annie Stunden, CIO at the University of Wisconsin-Madison 2Annie Stunden, CIO at the University of Wisconsin-Madison 3Annie Stunden, CIO at the University of Wisconsin-Madison 4Midwest VC investment up in 2004, but number of deals down 2Midwest VC investment up in 2004, but number of deals down 3
... Linkage: This CLS number is ... to easily match Cornings product ... yet, please order under the ... contact customer service for assistance. ...
... Mouse C2C12 cells were cultured in DMEM and ... In order to keep the antigens in their ... The cells are arrayed on a 12-well (5 ... specifically treated to enhance cellular attachment and to ...
... (PI) is a fluorescent nucleic acid dye ... As a nuclear counterstain, propidium iodide ... in color. The fluorescent red color ... fluorochromes such as FITC, Cy2 or AMCA. ...
... dual parameter assay for mitochondrial membrane ... Active caspases are detected by carboxyfluorescein ... are cell-permeable, non-cytotoxic and bind covalently ... cells. At the same time the ...
Biology Products: