Biogenic amines in silages: formation, impact on preference behaviour and metabolism by ruminants

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Karl-Heinz Südekum
• Subject Area: Animal Breeding, Animal Nutrition, Animal Husbandry
• Term: from 2016 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 292608733

Silage is an important ingredient in the diet of ruminants. During ensilage numerous fermentation processes occur, which may have a considerable impact on the quality of the feed and its acceptance by and feed intake behavior of the animals. The formation of biogenic amines as products of proteolytic and desmolytic processes is of specific relevance. It was shown that systematic addition of biogenic amines to the feed, oral or intraruminal application to the animal disturbed feeding behavior and metabolism. In this project silages (ryegrass, red clover and lucerne) with varying contents of biogenic amines will be produced and tested in preference trials with ruminants. Thus, new information about the effects of biogenic amines formed under natural conditions on the feeding behavior will be gathered. Based on this, the relevance of proteolytic and desmolytic metabolites as factors which inhibit the feed intake can be judged on a new background. To be able to illustrate the development of the contents of biogenic amines and their patterns, the plant material is sampled and analyzed before, during and after ensiling. Subsequently the silages, which contained comparable high levels of biogenic amines, are produced again and fed to lactating dairy goats. Ruminal fluid, blood plasma, faeces and milk will be analyzed for biogenic amines. This enables to track the fate and metabolism of biogenic amines from the plant through ensilage to intestinal digestion. The main purpose of this attempt is to quantify biogenic amines in each sub-step of their metabolism and to analyze potential correlations to feed intake. This knowledge gain can be expected to contribute to the quantification of the relevance of a gradual reduction of proteolysis relative to formation of biogenic amines.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants