Fermented product of feed raw material, methanation inhibiting composition, and methanation inhibiting method

Abstract

To provide feed which is safe without impairing the health of a ruminant, has high economic efficiency, and can be used to inhibit methanation, a methanation inhibiting composition using the feed, and a methanation inhibiting method.SOLUTION: The problem is solved by a fermented product of a feed raw material containing solid feed and sake lees and a methanation inhibiting composition including the fermented product of the feed raw material, and is also solved by a methanation inhibiting method, and the like including a step of inhibiting methanation in a ruminant by feeding the fermented product of the feed raw material to the ruminant.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fermented product of a feed material, and a composition for inhibiting methane gas production comprising the fermented product of the feed material, and use of the composition. [Background technology]

[0002] A wide variety of microorganisms live in the rumen of ruminants such as cows and sheep. The feed ingested by ruminants is broken down by these microorganisms and digested and absorbed as an energy source. During this process, volatile fatty acids such as acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid, as well as gases such as hydrogen and carbon dioxide are produced. Of these, hydrogen is further metabolized by microorganisms and is excreted from the body as methane gas, mainly through exhaled air.

[0003] Methane gas is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. It is said that the amount of methane gas emitted by ruminants on Earth accounts for approximately 40% of all methane gas emissions. Thus, from the perspective of protecting the global environment, it is desirable to suppress methane gas emitted from ruminants.

[0004] Known methods for suppressing methane gas emitted from ruminants include orally administering galactooligosaccharides and nitrates to ruminants (Patent Document 1), using protease-resistant bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria (Patent Document 2), and using multiple microbial species such as Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Candida, and Pichia microorganisms (Patent Document 3).

[0005] Meanwhile, distiller's lees are produced as a by-product in the brewing process of distilled spirits. Effective utilization of such distiller's lees is desired to reduce waste. However, for example, approximately 40,000 tons of awamori by-products, including awamori distiller's lees, are discharged annually in Okinawa Prefecture, and 30% of this, or 12,000 tons, is disposed of unused (Non-Patent Document 1). Awamori distiller's lees is rich in organic acids such as citric acid and essential amino acids, and the liquid obtained by subjecting it to solid-liquid separation such as press filtration is used as "moromi vinegar." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5192108 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-200730 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-057284 [Non-patent literature]

[0007] [Non-Patent Document 1] Okinawa Prefectural Livestock Research Center Research Report, No. 49 (2011), pp. 41-46 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The methods described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 have the potential to suppress methane gas emitted from ruminants. However, the method described in Patent Document 1 uses expensive galactooligosaccharides, which creates a problem of high costs when used in feed for livestock such as cattle. Furthermore, the method described in Patent Document 2 uses a protease-resistant bacteriocin produced by the lactic acid bacteria used, which is a type of antibiotic. The use of such antibiotics raises concerns about the emergence of resistant bacteria and their persistence in livestock. The method described in Patent Document 3 uses multiple microbial species, and preparing these microorganisms is extremely time-consuming and economically disadvantageous.

[0009] Awamori distillation lees are expected to be effectively utilized as mashed vinegar, etc. However, as described in Non-Patent Document 1, Awamori distillation lees have a high moisture content, making them difficult to collect, and the cost of using them as animal feed is an issue.

[0010] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a feed that can be used to inhibit methane production, which is safe and economical without harming the health of ruminants, as compared to the methods described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, as well as a methane production inhibiting composition and a methane production inhibiting method that use the feed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In the course of intensive research to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors attempted to effectively utilize awamori distillation lees by turning it into feed. However, awamori distillation lees has a high moisture content and is not suitable as feed as is. Therefore, the present inventors obtained a solid feed material by spraying awamori distillation lees onto solid feed. Then, to increase the nutritional value of the feed material, they subjected it to a fermentation process to obtain a fermented feed material.

[0012] When the fermented feed material obtained was fed to cattle, it was surprisingly found that the concentration of methane gas in the cattle's breath could be reduced, and as a result, the amount of methane gas produced by the cattle's breath could be reduced.

[0013] Awamori distillation lees is safe for ruminants such as cattle, as it is used to make moromi vinegar. Furthermore, since most of it is disposed of as waste, it is economically advantageous to obtain. Finally, the present inventors have succeeded in creating a fermented product of feed ingredients containing solid feed and sake lees such as awamori distillation lees, as well as a composition and method for inhibiting methane production in ruminants such as cattle, which contain the fermented product of the feed ingredients, as a solution to the problems of the present invention. The present invention was completed based on these successful examples and findings first discovered by the present inventors.

[0014] Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided: [1] Fermented feed ingredients including solid feed and sake lees. [2] The fermented feed material described in [1], wherein the sake lees are awamori distillation lees. [3] The fermented feed material has a pH of 3.0 to 6.0 and / or a yeast count of 1.0 × 10 3 CFU / g ~ 1.0 x 10 8 A fermented product of the feed ingredient according to any one of [1] to [2], wherein the CFU / g is 0. [4] A fermented feed material according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the ratio of sake lees in the feed material is 10 to 90 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the solid feed. [5] A fermented product of the feed ingredient according to any one of [1] to [4], further containing molasses and salt. [6] A composition for inhibiting methane production, comprising a fermented product of the feed ingredient according to any one of [1] to [5]. [7] The methane production inhibiting composition according to [6], which is a methane production inhibiting composition for inhibiting methane production in ruminants. [8] The composition for inhibiting methane production described in [7], wherein the ruminant is at least one ruminant selected from the group consisting of cattle, sheep, goats, and deer. [9] A method for suppressing methane production in ruminants, comprising the step of feeding the fermented product of the feed ingredient described in any one of [1] to [5] to the ruminants to suppress methane production in the ruminants.

[10] A step of spraying awamori distillation lees onto solid feed to obtain a feed material; fermenting the feed material to obtain a fermented product of the feed material; A method for producing a fermented feed material, comprising:

[11] A composition for inhibiting the growth of methanogens in the intestinal flora of ruminants, comprising a fermented product of the feed ingredient according to any one of [1] to [5]. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the fermented feed material and the composition for inhibiting methane production, which are one embodiment of the present invention, by feeding them to ruminants, methane production in ruminants can be inhibited safely without harming the health of the ruminants. Furthermore, sake lees, such as awamori distillation lees, used as feed materials are economically advantageous and easily available, as they are usually disposed of as waste. Therefore, the fermented feed material and the composition for inhibiting methane production, which are one embodiment of the present invention, can be produced on an industrial scale and used industrially. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a photographic image showing the process of producing a fermented feed material according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a photographic image showing a fermented feed ingredient according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows the results of methane gas concentration as described in the Examples below. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a graph showing the results of methane gas generation, as described in the Examples below. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Each aspect of the present invention will be described in detail below, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the details of these items, and the present invention can take various forms as long as it achieves its object.

[0018] Unless otherwise specified, each term in this specification is used in the sense commonly used by those skilled in the art and should not be construed as having an unduly limiting meaning.

[0019] The term "content" as used herein is synonymous with concentration and means the ratio (e.g., mass %) of the amount (e.g., mass) of a component to the total amount (e.g., volume) of the composition. "Comprising" means that elements other than those explicitly stated as being included can be added (same meaning as "comprising at least"), but also encompasses "consisting of" and "consisting essentially of." That is, "comprising" can mean including the explicitly stated elements and any one or more elements, consisting of the explicitly stated elements, or consisting essentially of the explicitly stated elements. Elements include limitations such as ingredients, steps, conditions, and parameters. The "to" in a numerical range includes the preceding and following numerical values; for example, "0% to 100%" means a range greater than or equal to 0% and less than or equal to 100%. "More than" and "less than" mean the lower and upper limits, respectively, excluding the preceding numerical value; for example, "more than 1" means a numerical value greater than 1, and "less than 100" means a numerical value less than 100. The number of digits in an integer value matches the number of significant digits. For example, 1 has one significant digit, and 10 has two significant digits. Also, the number of digits after the decimal point in a decimal value matches the number of significant digits. For example, 0.1 has one significant digit, and 0.10 has two significant digits.

[0020] [Fermented feed ingredients] In one embodiment of the present invention, the fermented feed raw material comprises solid feed and sake lees.

[0021] A fermented feed material in one embodiment of the present invention is obtained by fermenting a feed material containing at least solid feed and sake lees. The fermented feed material of one embodiment of the present invention is basically more nutritious than solid feed alone, so by feeding it to livestock, livestock can be raised that are tasty and nutritious, and in addition, if the livestock are ruminants, methane production can be suppressed.

[0022] [Solid feed] The solid feed that is the feed ingredient of the fermented product is not particularly limited as long as it is one that is generally used as solid feed for livestock. For example, solid feed is solid feed prepared by crushing, mixing, and / or drying grass, grains, etc. In particular, from the viewpoint of fermentation efficiency, solid (powdered) concentrated feed prepared from grain nuts, oil cakes, bran, manufactured by-products, animal feed, etc., which has low fiber content and high concentrations of nutrients such as starch and protein, is preferred.

[0023] As the solid feed, commercially available products or products produced by known production methods may be used. An example of a commercially available solid feed is the concentrated feed "JA Ishigaki Beef Late" (manufactured by Okinawa Prefectural Agricultural Cooperative Association) (73% grains (corn, heat-treated barley, heat-treated corn, barley), 18% soybeans (bran, corn gluten feed, rice bran), 7% vegetable oil cakes (rapeseed oil cake, soybean oil cake), and 2% others (molasses, salt, calcium carbonate)).

[0024] The form of the solid feed is not particularly limited, but examples include powder, pellets, flakes, etc. The water content of the solid feed is preferably 15% by mass or less, more specifically, 5% to 15% by mass. The pH of the solid feed is not particularly limited, but is preferably about 6.0 to 7.5.

[0025] [Sake lees] In the present invention, sake lees, which are a feed material for fermented products, refer to the brewery lees of alcoholic beverages (yeast fermented products). Examples of sake lees include, but are not limited to, brewery lees of sake, shochu (including awamori), fruit alcoholic beverages (wine, etc.), whiskey, spirits, liqueurs, beer, and happoshu. Among these, awamori distillation lees are particularly preferred.

[0026] Awamori distillation lees is the residue generated during the Awamori production process. Awamori is typically produced by adding black koji to the raw material Thai rice (Indica rice) to make rice koji, then adding water and yeast to prepare mash, which is then subjected to alcoholic fermentation to create mature mash, which is then distilled. The distillation residue from the distillation process of mature mash is Awamori distillation lees. In the case of Awamori distillation lees, which are a feed material for fermented products, there are no particular restrictions on the Thai rice, black koji, yeast, etc. used in the production of Awamori.

[0027] The awamori distillation lees used may be commercially available or may be obtained by a known method. In the present invention, by using awamori distillation lees as feed, it is possible to contribute to a reduction in waste and also to reduce costs.

[0028] It is preferable to use the distillation residue of awamori distillation lees as it is, but it is also possible to separate the liquid portion into solid and liquid by an appropriate means and use it as it is, or as a concentrated liquid by concentrating it, or to dry it and use it as a dried product. Alternatively, the solid portion after solid-liquid separation may be used as it is, or as a dried product, or may be powdered and used as a powder.

[0029] The components of awamori distillation lees are not particularly limited, but typically include, for example, moisture (95%±3%), crude protein (3%±1%), crude fiber (1%±1%), crude fat (0.5%±0.5%), crude ash (0.1%±0.1%), etc. Furthermore, since awamori distillation lees contains acids such as citric acid, the pH of awamori distillation lees is low and weakly acidic, specifically, about 3.0 to 6.0.

[0030] The proportion of sake lees in the feed ingredients is not particularly limited, but is preferably 10 to 90 parts by mass, more preferably 20 to 70 parts by mass, and even more preferably 30 to 40 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of solid feed.

[0031] The feed ingredients may contain other ingredients in addition to solid feed and sake lees, as long as the object of the present invention can be achieved. Examples of other ingredients include, but are not limited to, molasses, salt, vitamins, enzymes, etc. Among these, molasses and salt are preferred from the viewpoint of promoting fermentation. The proportion of other ingredients in the feed ingredients is preferably 0.1 to 5 parts by mass, more preferably 1 to 3 parts by mass, per 100 parts by mass of solid feed.

[0032] [Fermented products] The fermented feed material of one embodiment of the present invention is a naturally fermented product produced by microorganisms contained in (or attached to) the feed material, including at least solid feed and sake lees, or by microorganisms present in the air. Examples of microorganisms that perform natural fermentation include koji mold, yeast, lactic acid bacteria, and acetic acid bacteria. In the present invention, the fermented product is obtained by natural fermentation, which is mainly caused by microorganisms derived from the feed raw materials (i.e., fermented without adding microorganisms to promote fermentation), but this does not exclude fermented products that are obtained by natural fermentation as well as by adding microorganisms to promote fermentation.

[0033] Unless otherwise specified, the fermented product may be used as it is, or may be appropriately diluted or appropriately concentrated. Alternatively, the fermented product may be dried or roughly purified and used as the fermented product.

[0034] The number of microbial cells (CFU) in the fermented product is not particularly limited. For example, the number of aerobic bacteria (general viable bacteria) is 3.0 × 10 2 CFU / g ~ 4.0 x 10 5 CFU / g, and the number of yeast cells is 1.0 x 10 3 CFU / g ~ 1.0 x 108 It is about CFU / g. Furthermore, since the pH of the fermented product is about 3.0 to 6.0, it is believed that the lactic acid bacteria in the fermented product proliferate through natural fermentation and then die due to the lactic acid they produce. In the present invention, the microbial cell count (CFU) and pH of the fermented product can be measured as described in the Examples below.

[0035] The form of the fermented product varies depending on the form of the solid feed and / or sake lees, but from the viewpoint of feeding efficiency to ruminants, it is preferably a moist or semi-moist powder. The water content of the fermented product is not particularly limited, but is preferably 10% to 90% by mass, more preferably 20% to 70% by mass, and even more preferably 30% to 50% by mass, for example.

[0036] [Manufacturing method] One embodiment of the present invention is a method for producing a fermented feed material, but is not particularly limited thereto. Examples of the method include a step of mixing solid feed with sake lees to obtain the feed material, and a step of fermenting the feed material to obtain a fermented feed material. More specifically, in the case where the sake lees is awamori distillation lees, for example, the method includes a step of spraying the awamori distillation lees onto solid feed to obtain the feed material, and a step of fermenting the feed material to obtain a fermented feed material. The fermented product thus obtained can be used as is, or after drying or sterilization, as necessary.

[0037] When the sake lees are awamori distillation lees, the specific method for producing the fermented feed material is as follows. Step 1: Concentrated feed is put into the silo as solid feed. Step 2: The liquid awamori distillation lees, molasses and salt are mixed to obtain a liquid mixture. Step 3: The concentrated feed from step 1 is poured from the silo into a non-breathable plastic bag while the liquid mixture from step 2 is sprayed evenly onto the bag and mixed to obtain the feed material (see Figure 1). Step 4: The plastic bag containing the feed material obtained in step 3 is closed and left to stand at room temperature (e.g., 25°C) for at least 3 days, allowing the feed material to undergo natural fermentation, thereby obtaining a fermented product (see Figure 2).

[0038] In step 2, water may be added to the liquid mixture to adjust the moisture content of the feed ingredients to be obtained in the next step 3. The moisture content is appropriately set depending on the moisture content of the feed ingredients used, the weather, and the season, but is preferably 30% to 50% by mass in the feed ingredients.

[0039] In step 3, the method for evenly spraying the liquid mixture obtained in step 2 onto the solid feed is not particularly limited, but for example, spraying can be done using a fixed-volume high-viscosity liquid transfer pump or a sludge slurry pump.

[0040] The feed ingredients may contain other ingredients in addition to solid feed and sake lees. Examples of other ingredients include, but are not limited to, molasses, salt, vitamins, enzymes, etc. Among these, molasses and salt are preferred from the viewpoint of promoting fermentation. The content ratio of the feed ingredients is not particularly limited as long as it can solve the problem of the present invention, but a specific example is a mass ratio of (solid feed: sake lees: molasses: salt) of 4.5-90:10-90:0.5-5:0.1-0.5.

[0041] In step 4, the feed material is left to stand at room temperature in a closed or semi-closed state, whereby natural fermentation occurs due to the action of microorganisms such as koji mold, yeast, and lactic acid bacteria. Specifically, yeast fermentation and lactic acid fermentation are thought to occur in the spontaneous fermentation in step 4. In yeast fermentation, alcohol and carbon dioxide are produced while oxygen is consumed, so lactic acid fermentation occurs under anaerobic conditions.

[0042] Fermentation conditions include a fermentation temperature of preferably 15°C to 45°C, more preferably 37°C to 41°C, and a fermentation period of preferably several days to several tens of days, more preferably 1 day to 10 days, and even more preferably 3 days to 7 days. From the viewpoint of fermentation efficiency, the pH of the feed material at the start of fermentation is preferably adjusted to 4.0 to 9.0, more preferably 5.0 to 8.0, and even more preferably about 6.0 to 7.0.

[0043] [Methane production inhibiting composition] A methane production-inhibiting composition according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a fermented feed material. This methane production-inhibiting composition is for inhibiting methane production in ruminants.

[0044] The methane production inhibitory effect of the methane production-inhibiting composition of one embodiment of the present invention can be evaluated and confirmed by analyzing the methane gas concentration in the exhaled breath of a ruminant and / or the amount of methane gas produced, as described in the Examples below. Specifically, the methane production inhibitory effect can be confirmed by observing that when a ruminant is fed the methane production-inhibiting composition of one embodiment of the present invention, the methane gas concentration in the exhaled breath and / or the amount of methane gas produced is suppressed or reduced compared to when the ruminant is not fed the composition of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] [Ruminants] Ruminants are mammals that belong to the order Artiodactyla and suborder Ruminantia, have a stomach divided into three or four chambers, and chew their cud. Specific examples include cattle, sheep, goats, and deer. The composition for inhibiting methane production according to one embodiment of the present invention is preferably used as feed for ruminants, particularly cattle.

[0046] In one embodiment of the composition for inhibiting methane production of the present invention, other ingredients may be included as long as the composition contains a fermented product of feed ingredients including solid feed and sake lees, as long as the problem of the present invention can be solved.

[0047] [Methods for suppressing methane production] A method for inhibiting methane production in ruminants according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises feeding a fermented feed material (a composition for inhibiting methane production) according to one embodiment of the present invention to the ruminants to inhibit methane production in the ruminants. By feeding the composition to the ruminants as feed, methane production can be inhibited safely and economically without adversely affecting the health of the ruminants.

[0048] [Feeding amount] The amount of fermented feed material (methane production inhibiting composition) to be fed can be selected appropriately depending on the type and age of the ruminant, but is preferably 1 g / kg to 20 g / kg body weight per day, more preferably 3 g / kg to 15 g / kg body weight, and even more preferably 5 g / kg to 10 g / kg body weight per day.

[0049] [Feeding period] The timing of feeding the fermented feed material (methane production inhibiting composition) can be selected appropriately depending on the type and age of the ruminant. For example, in the case of cattle, it is preferable to feed them after birth, particularly after weaning, when solid-containing feed is fed. In particular, it is preferable to feed them after the time when the first stomach is fully developed, specifically after 14 months of age.

[0050] [Feeding method] The fermented feed material (methane production inhibiting composition) may be fed to ruminants alone or together with other feed. Other feeds include, for example, roughage, concentrated feed, etc. Roughage has a lower nutritional value than concentrated feed, and examples thereof include fresh grass, silage, hay, straw, etc. The amount of other feeds to be fed is preferably 4 g / kg to 10 g / kg of body weight per day for roughage, and 10 g / kg to 25 g / kg of body weight per day for concentrates, i.e., the mass ratio of (roughage: concentrate: fermented feed ingredients) per kg of body weight per day is 0.8-2:2-5:1-2.

[0051] [Composition for inhibiting the growth of methane-producing bacteria] A composition for inhibiting the growth of methanogens in one embodiment of the present invention contains a fermented product of a feed ingredient and exhibits the effect of inhibiting the growth of methanogens in the intestinal flora of ruminants.

[0052] The methanogen growth inhibitory effect of the composition for inhibiting the growth of methanogens according to one embodiment of the present invention can be evaluated and confirmed by analyzing the intestinal bacterial flora contained in the feces of ruminants, as described in the Examples below. Specifically, the effect can be confirmed by observing whether the growth of methanogens contained in the feces is inhibited or reduced when the composition for inhibiting the growth of methanogens according to one embodiment of the present invention is fed to ruminants, compared to when the composition of one embodiment of the present invention is not fed to ruminants.

[0053] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples, and the present invention can take various forms as long as the object of the present invention can be achieved. [Example]

[0054] [1. Feed] The following A to C were used as feed. Feed A: Roughage (rice straw) Feed B: Concentrated feed "JA Ishigaki Beef Late" (73% grains (corn, heat-treated barley, heat-treated corn, barley), 18% soybeans (bran, corn gluten feed, rice bran), 7% vegetable oil cakes (rapeseed oil cake, soybean oil cake), 2% others (molasses, salt, calcium carbonate)) Feed C: Fermented feed ingredients The fermented feed material of Feed C was obtained by the following steps 1 to 4.

[0055] Step 1: 1,000 kg of the concentrated feed of the above feed B, "JA Ishigaki Beef Late" was put into a silo. Step 2: 20 L (30 kg) of molasses (manufactured by Ishigakijima Sugar Co., Ltd.; sugar content 75%) and 2 kg of salt (Ishigaki no Shio, manufactured by Ishigaki no Shio Co., Ltd.; contains bittern) were added to 500 L of thick, liquid awamori distillation lees, and mixed using a rotary pump ("VRP-1D-FA", manufactured by Miura Kogyo Co., Ltd.) to obtain a liquid mixture. Step 3: 250 kg of the concentrated feed placed in the silo in Step 1 was placed in a flexible container bag lined with an opaque plastic bag, and simultaneously 125 L of the liquid mixture obtained in Step 2 was sprayed and mixed with the concentrated feed using a rotary pump ("VRP-1D-FA", manufactured by Miura Co., Ltd.) to ensure uniform mixing, thereby obtaining a feed ingredient (see Figure 1). Water was added so that the moisture content of the feed ingredient was approximately 40% by mass. Step 4: The plastic bag containing the feed ingredients obtained in step 3 was sealed and left to stand at room temperature (25°C) for at least 3 days, allowing the feed ingredients to naturally ferment, thereby obtaining a fermented feed ingredient (see Figure 2).

[0056] The content ratio of each component in the fermented feed ingredients of Feed C is as shown in Table 1 below.

[0057] [Table 1]

[0058] [2. Number of bacteria in feed C] The pH and microbial count (CFU) of Feed C were measured, and the results were as follows. The pH was measured using a pH meter (Waterproof Pen Type pHTestr10BNC, Nikko Hansen Co., Ltd.) for a solution prepared by dissolving Feed C in water to a concentration of 50% by mass. The bacterial count was measured by smearing an appropriately diluted Feed C solution onto 3M Petrifilm AC plates (general bacteria), 3M Petrifilm LAB plates (lactic acid bacteria), and 3M Petrifilm RYM plates (yeast), and culturing them at a temperature and time appropriate for the growth of each microorganism, thereby determining the number of colonies (CFU / g) formed. pH: 4.45 Aerobic bacteria (general viable bacteria): 3.5 x 103 CFU / g Lactic acid bacteria (anaerobic culture): negative Yeast: 4.5×10 6 CFU / g From the above results, it can be seen that the pH of Feed C was low at 4.45, so lactic acid bacteria proliferated through natural fermentation, and then died out due to the lactic acid they produced. On the other hand, the number of yeast cells indicates that yeast proliferation occurred through natural fermentation.

[0059] [3. Test animals] Fattening cattle [1] to [6] shown in Table 2 below were used as test animals.

[0060] [Table 2]

[0061] [4. Feeding Method] Both the test and control fattening cattle were fed Feed A and Feed B in the amounts shown in Table 3 below from 10 to 13 months of age. Then, for the test fattening cattle (1) to (3), from 14 months of age onwards, Feed A, Feed B and Feed C were fed in the amounts shown in Table 3 below for 4 to 6 months. On the other hand, the control fattening cattle (4) to (6) were fed Feed A and Feed B in the amounts shown in Table 3 below for 2 months from 14 months of age onwards.

[0062] [Table 3]

[0063] [5. Methane gas concentration in exhaled breath and amount of methane gas produced] Approximately three hours after the morning feeding, the exhaled breath of the test and control cattle was collected in three to four 70-liter collection bags, with a homemade breath collection mask tightly attached to the cattle's mouths. The bags were changed every 30 seconds. Methane gas concentrations (ppm) were measured using a detector tube ("High-Sensitivity Combustible Gas Monitor NC-1000," manufactured by Riken Keiki Co., Ltd.). The results are shown in Table 4 below.

[0064] The amount of methane gas produced was calculated from the measured methane gas concentration. The results are shown in Table 4 below. The amount of methane gas produced (L / day / head) was calculated using the following formula. The ventilation rate was calculated using the literature value (GALLIVAN, GJ: Research in Veterinary Science 1989, 46, 322-330), which is the ventilation rate of an adult cow per minute (0.2182 L / min / kg). Formula: Methane gas generation rate (L / day / head) = Methane gas generation rate (L / min / head) x 1440 (Methane gas generation rate (L / min / head) = ventilation rate (L / min / head) x methane gas concentration (ppm) x 10 -6 )

[0065] [Table 4]

[0066] Furthermore, for the results in Table 4 above, an unpaired one-sided test was performed to compare the test group and the control group. The significance level was set at 5%. Inter-group comparisons of methane gas concentration in the exhaled breath and methane gas generation amount are shown in Figures 3 and 4.

[0067] The results in Table 4 show that the methane gas concentration in the breath of fattening cattle [4] to [6] in the control group averaged 5,932 ppm, all of which were above 4,420 ppm. In contrast, the methane gas concentration in the breath of fattening cattle [1] to [3] in the test group averaged 1,996 ppm, and was below 3,090 ppm in all of the test cattle, which was lower than that of the control cattle. The methane gas production per minute and per day also showed similar trends, with the values ​​for fattening cattle [1] to [3] in the test group being lower. In addition, the reduction in methane gas emitted by the test group of fattening cattle compared to the control group of fattening cattle (difference in methane gas emitted: 746 (L / day / head) - 392 (L / day / head)) was 354 (L / day / head), which is equivalent to 102 (L / day / head / kg) per kg of feed.

[0068] Furthermore, from the results of Figures 3 and 4, a comparison between the test group and the control group showed that the breath methane gas concentration and the amount of methane gas generated in the test group were both significantly lower than those in the control group.

[0069] These results demonstrate that feeding ruminants such as cattle with Feed C, i.e., the fermented feed material obtained by fermenting feed materials containing solid concentrated feed and awamori distillers' grains, can suppress the production of methane gas in the breath of the ruminants.

[0070] [6. Occupation of methanogenic bacteria in the intestinal microbiota] Based on the above results, the present inventors investigated the effect of feeding ruminants a fermented feed containing solid concentrate and sake lees (Feed C) on the amount of methane gas produced in their breath, and ... Methanobrevibacter The occupancy (relative abundance) (%) of each genera was measured. Specifically, fattening cattle [I] to [VI] shown in Table 5 below were used as test animals, and the test group fattening cattle [I] to [IV] were fed Feed A, Feed B, and Feed C in the amounts shown in Table 5 below for three months, while the control group fattening cattle [V] to [VI] were fed Feed A and Feed B in the amounts shown in Table 5 below for three months. After feeding, feces were collected from the test group and the control group, and the occupancy rate (%) of methanogens in the feces was measured by 16S ribosomal RNA analysis and compared.

[0071] [Table 5]

[0072] The microbial communities of the samples were analyzed by amplicon sequencing targeting the 16S rDNA (16S rRNA) partial base sequence. DNA was extracted according to standard methods, the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified, and meta-16S bacterial flora analysis was performed using Illumina MiSeq. The bacterial flora analysis was performed using Metagenome@KIN (World Fusion, Japan). From the obtained bacterial flora analysis, the bacterial flora composition at the family and genus level was determined. Methanobrevibacter The occupancy (relative abundance) (%) of bacteria of this genus in feces is shown in Table 6.

[0073] [Table 6]

[0074] The results in Table 6 confirm that the occupancy rate of methane-producing bacteria in the control group was higher than that in the test group.

[0075] Based on the above, feeding fermented feed ingredients, including solid feed and sake lees, to ruminants such as cows can suppress the production of methane gas in the ruminants' breath. One possible reason for this phenomenon is a reduction in methanogenic archaea in the intestinal flora. [Industrial Applicability]

[0076] According to the present invention, by using sake lees as a feed ingredient, it is possible to reduce waste and costs, and it can also be used to reduce methane gas, a powerful greenhouse gas emitted by ruminants, without harming the health of ruminants, thereby contributing to the protection of the global environment.

Claims

1. Fermented feed ingredients including solid feed and sake lees.

2. The fermented feed material according to claim 1, wherein the sake lees are awamori distillation lees.

3. The fermented feed material has a pH of 3.0 to 6.0 and / or a yeast count of 1.0 x 10 3 CFU / g~1.0×10 8 The fermented product of the feed material according to claim 1, wherein the CFU / g is 0.01%.

4. The fermented feed material according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of sake lees in the feed material is 10 to 90 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the solid feed.

5. 10. The fermented feed material of claim 1, further comprising molasses and salt.

6. A composition for inhibiting methane production, comprising a fermented product of the feed material according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The methane production inhibiting composition according to claim 6, wherein the methane production inhibiting composition is for inhibiting methane production in ruminants.

8. 8. The composition for inhibiting methane production according to claim 7, wherein the ruminant is at least one ruminant selected from the group consisting of cattle, sheep, goats, and deer.

9. A method for suppressing methane production in ruminants, comprising the step of feeding the fermented product of the feed raw material according to any one of claims 1 to 5 to the ruminants to suppress methane production in the ruminants.

10. A step of spraying awamori distillation lees onto solid feed to obtain a feed raw material; fermenting the feed material to obtain a fermented product of the feed material; A method for producing a fermented feed material, comprising:

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