Effect of Monensin and Fish Oil Supplementation on Biohydrogenation and CLA Production by Rumen Bacteria In vitro When Incubated with Safflower Oil

An in vitro study was conducted to examine the effect of monensin or fish oil addition on bio-hydrogenation of $C_{18^-} unsaturated fatty acids and CLA production by mixed ruminal bacteria when incubated with safflower oil. Commercially manufactured concentrate (1%, w/v) with safflower oil (0.2%, w/v) were added to mixed solution (600 ml) of strained rumen fluid and McDougalls artificial saliva (control). Monensin $Rumensin^{(R)}$, 10 ppm, w/v, MO), mixed fish oil (0.02%, w/v, absorbed to 0.2 g alfalfa hay, FO) or similar amounts of monensin and fish oil (MO+FO) to MO and FO was also added into the control solution. All the culture solutions prepared were incubated in the culture jar anaerobically at $39^{\circ}C$ up to 12 h. Higher pH (p<0.047) and ammonia concentration (p<0.042) were observed from the culture solution containing MO at 12 h incubation than those from the culture solutions of control or FO. The MO supplementation increased (p<0.0001-0.007) propionate proportion of culture solution but reduced butyrate proportion at 6 h (p<0.018) and 12 h (p<0.001) of incubations. Supplementation of MO or MO+FO increased (p<0.001) the proportions of $C_{18:2}$. The MO alone reduced (p<0.022-0.025) the proportion of c9,t11-CLA compared to FO in all incubation times. The FO supplementation increased the proportion of c9,t11-CLA. An additive effect of MO to FO in the production of c9,t11-CLA was observed at 6 h incubation. In vitro supplementation of monensin reduced hydrogenation of $C_{18^-}$UFAs while fish oil supplementation increased the production of CLA.