Moderation of ruminal fermentation by ciliated protozoa in cattle fed a high-grain diet

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1992 Aug;58(8):2410-4. doi: 10.1128/aem.58.8.2410-2414.1992.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the influence of ciliated protozoa on ruminal fermentation in cattle fed high-grain diets. Six ruminally cannulated steers fed a corn-based grain diet (85% concentrate plus 15% alfalfa hay) at 12-h intervals were assigned randomly to two groups, ciliate free and faunated, in a crossover design. Defaunation was by ruminal emptying, omasal flushing, and treatment with sodium sulfosuccinate. Two to 3 weeks after defaunation, the ruminal contents of all steers were sampled before the morning feeding (0 h) and at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 h after feeding to measure pH, analyze fermentation products, and monitor counts of ciliated protozoa and lactic acid-producing and -fermenting bacterial groups. Total numbers of ciliated protozoa in the faunated steers averaged 4.3 x 10(5)/g, and the protozoa consisted of nine genera. Ciliate-free steers had lower (P less than 0.01) ruminal pHs (pH 5.97) than faunated cattle (pH 6.45); however, the treatment-time interaction was not significant. Ruminal lactate and ammonia concentrations were similar in both groups. The total volatile fatty acid concentration was higher (P less than 0.05) in the ciliate-free steers than in the faunated steers and exhibited a treatment-time interaction (P less than 0.05). The acetate-to-propionate ratio was higher (P less than 0.05) in the faunated group than in the ciliate-free group and showed a treatment-time interaction (P less than 0.05). Total anaerobic bacterial counts were about fourfold higher in the ciliate-free group than in the faunated group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Ciliophora / metabolism*
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Diet
  • Edible Grain
  • Fermentation*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Lactates / metabolism
  • Lactic Acid
  • Male
  • Rumen / metabolism*
  • Rumen / microbiology
  • Rumen / parasitology*

Substances

  • Lactates
  • Lactic Acid