The disclosure relates to isolated microorganisms—including novel strains of the microorganisms—microbial consortia, and compositions comprising the same. Furthermore, the disclosure teaches methods of utilizing the described microorganisms, microbial consortia, and compositions comprising the same, in methods for modulating the production and yield of milk and milk components in ruminants. In particular aspects, the disclosure provides methods of increasing desirable components of milk in ruminants. Furthermore, the disclosure provides for methods of modulating the rumen microbiome.

The disclosure relates to isolated microorganisms—including novel strains of the microorganisms—microbial consortia, and compositions comprising the same. Furthermore, the disclosure teaches methods of utilizing the described microorganisms, microbial consortia, and compositions comprising the same, in methods for modulating the production and yield of milk and milk components in ruminants. In particular aspects, the disclosure provides methods of increasing desirable components of milk in ruminants. Furthermore, the disclosure provides for methods of modulating the rumen microbiome.

A process for obtaining extruded animal feed including fibers, especially sugar cane and corn straws, applied in the agricultural and cattle-raising field for the nutrition of ruminants, contributing for higher productive performance (meat or milk) than conventional animal feeds, making use of the non-used sources of fibers for that purpose, with extruded characteristics, as well as for equines, wherein the process follows exactly the same procedure as shown by the patent application, but without the mixture of urea and additives.

A process for obtaining extruded animal feed including fibers, especially sugar cane and corn straws, applied in the agricultural and cattle-raising field for the nutrition of ruminants, contributing for higher productive performance (meat or milk) than conventional animal feeds, making use of the non-used sources of fibers for that purpose, with extruded characteristics, as well as for equines, wherein the process follows exactly the same procedure as shown by the patent application, but without the mixture of urea and additives.

Methods and compositions are described for producing a phytase in transgenic maize plants and then incorporating parts of the transgenic maize plants in animal feed. The feed phytase enzyme displays activity across a broad pH range, and tolerance to temperatures that are often encountered during the process of preparing animal feeds. Methods of producing an animal feed that incorporate the transgenic maize plants, parts thereof or plant derived phytases, as well as methods of promoting the release of inorganic phosphate from a phytic acid in an animal, producing an animal meat, or reducing the ratio of intake of an animal feed per weight of the animal meat by feeding an animal with the animal feed incorporating transgenic maize plants are provided.

Methods and compositions are described for producing a phytase in transgenic maize plants and then incorporating parts of the transgenic maize plants in animal feed. The feed phytase enzyme displays activity across a broad pH range, and tolerance to temperatures that are often encountered during the process of preparing animal feeds. Methods of producing an animal feed that incorporate the transgenic maize plants, parts thereof or plant derived phytases, as well as methods of promoting the release of inorganic phosphate from a phytic acid in an animal, producing an animal meat, or reducing the ratio of intake of an animal feed per weight of the animal meat by feeding an animal with the animal feed incorporating transgenic maize plants are provided.

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a system and method of extracting bioactive agents from biomass using continuous microwave-assisted extraction. The disclosed system includes a plurality of microwave modules that exposes the biomass to continuous microwave energy, and an extraction module to extract bioactive agents from the biomass. In some embodiments, the biomass is exposed to subcritical water treatment in the microwave modules. The disclosed system enables bioactive agent to be extracted effectively, in a relatively short period of time compared to conventional extraction methods and allows for an enhanced extraction yield.

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a system and method of extracting bioactive agents from biomass using continuous microwave-assisted extraction. The disclosed system includes a plurality of microwave modules that exposes the biomass to continuous microwave energy, and an extraction module to extract bioactive agents from the biomass. In some embodiments, the biomass is exposed to subcritical water treatment in the microwave modules. The disclosed system enables bioactive agent to be extracted effectively, in a relatively short period of time compared to conventional extraction methods and allows for an enhanced extraction yield.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a treatment method by which, even for wastewater with organic constituents constituting a large portion of organic wastewater as a whole and suspended solids (SS) and with a large negative charge ratio, organic nitrogen constituents and phosphorus compounds can be efficiently separated and collected and good-quality separated water can be obtained by reducing the quantity of SS, BOD, COD, and nitrogen constituents in the separated water. Provided is a treatment method for organic waste water, in which a flock is formed by adding a polymer flocculant to organic waste water with organic nitrogen constituent content in relation to suspended solids (SS) being 4-50%/SS and organic nitrogen constituent content being 250-50,000 mg/L, and thereafter, the flock is separated from the organic wastewater by solid-liquid separation.

A method is provided for pretreating cellulosic or lignocellulosic biomass comprising de-esterifying the biomass with an alkali treatment to produce de-esterified biomass; and pretreating the de-esterified biomass with ammonia to produce de-esterified ammonia pretreated biomass. In various embodiments, the de-esterified ammonia pretreated biomass has an amide concentration ranging from about 0.04 to about 25 mg/g biomass. In other embodiments, the amide concentration is no more than 0.04 mg/g biomass. Various ammonia pretreatment processes may be used, including liquid or gaseous ammonia pretreatments, including, but not limited to, liquid ammonium hydroxide pretreatments, various AFEX pretreatments, with or without biomass densification, and various cellulosic conversion pretreatments including “COBRA” pretreatments. Products (e.g., animal feed) and systems are also disclosed.