• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.2_spc
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• pp.385-395
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• 2024

Ruminal ciliates are a fundamental constituent within the rumen microbiome of ruminant animals. The complex interactions between ruminal ciliates and other microbial guilds within the rumen ecosystems are of paramount importance for facilitating the digestion and fermentation processes of ingested feed components. This review underscores the significance of ruminal ciliates by exploring their impact on key factors, such as methane production, nitrogen utilization efficiency, feed efficiency, and other animal performance measurements. Various methods are employed in the study of ruminal ciliates including culture techniques and molecular approaches. This review highlights the pressing need for further investigations to discern the distinct roles of various ciliate species, particularly relating to methane mitigation and the enhancement of nitrogen utilization efficiency. The promotion of establishing robust reference databases tailored specifically to ruminal ciliates is encouraged, alongside the utilization of genomics and transcriptomics that can highlight their functional contributions to the rumen microbiome. Collectively, the progressive advancement in knowledge concerning ruminal ciliates and their inherent biological significance will be helpful in the pursuit of optimizing rumen functionality and refining animal production outcomes.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.111-114
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• 1982

In order to explore more efficient protein substitutes by improving the utilization of non-protein nitrogen compounds in ruminants, the experiment was undertaken. The effects of sulfur coated urea (SCU) and diuredio isobutane (DUIB) in the ruminal fluid on the concentration of $NH_3-N$, the total count of the ruminal ciliates and pH value were estimated in vitro. The results obtained from the experiment were as follows: 1. The pH of the media of the group added diuredio isobutane and sulfur costed urea tends to decrease slightly at 9 hours after the incubation, but no pH changes were observed in the media added urea alone. 2. The number of the ciliates in the ruminal fluid was slightly increased 9 hours after the incubation in all groups. 3. The concentrations of $NH_3-N$ in the ruminal fluid were gradually increased according to the incubation in vitro showing 418, 431 and $627{\mu}g/ml$ in the group added diuredio isobutane and 428, 569 and $792{\mu}g/ml$ in the group added sulfur coated urea at 0, 0.5 and 9 hours after the incubation, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.15-27
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• 1990

Effects of oral administration of electrolyte solutions were studied in experimentally dehydrated adult sheep. By the latin square method five ruminal fistulated sheep were examined and dehydrated by deprivation of feed and water for 72 hours. Tap water, physiological saline, 0.45% NaCl+120 mM/L glucose and 0.9% NaCl+1% propylene glycol solution were orally administrated after dehydration, respectively. Rehydration effect and modification of the rumen function were compared. 1. After 72 hours of deprivation of feed and water, sheep were hypertonic dehydrated and blood acid-base parameters were not significantly changed. And there was marked increase in ruminal pH and decrease in ruminal total volatile fatty acid(VFA) concentration. 2. After the fluids administration the changes in blood acid-base parameters were not significant in all groups. 3. Although glucose fermentation in the rumen was observed, 0.45% NaCl+120 mM/L glucose was more effective in rehydration than physiological saline and tap water. But it was difficult to know the rehydration effect of 0.9% NaCl+1% propylene glycol solution exactly because of excessive increase in plasma osmolality. 4. After refeeding, total concentration and proportions of ruminal volatile fatty acid(VFA) were not significantly different among groups and recovered to normal concentration but not in proportions after 2 days in all groups. 5. In vitro cultured ruminal protozoa were susceptible to the decrease of the pH and osmolality.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.143-147
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• 1979

Eight Holstein cows weighing 419-673kg with 2 to 10 years of age were allocated into two groups, four animals each, to study the effect of feeding urea and urea plus Zeolite on rumen pH and the population of rumen ciliates. Rumen fluid samples were taken after morning feed for 7 times at one hour intervals. Experimental results obtained were as follows; 1. Rumen pH was gradually dropped from 7.272 to 7.163 by 3.01 hour and from 7.18 to 7.07 by 2.87 hour and reached 7.352 and 7.29 at 7 hour after feeding, respectively on urea and urea plus Zeolite feeding group. 2. Total ciliate numbers decreased from 209,540 to 113,755 by 4.311 hour and from 381,430 to 203.125 by 4.406 hour and gradually increased to 151,030 and 265,230 by 7 hour after feeding, respectively on urea and urea plus Zeolite feeding group. 3. Population of ruminal ciliates was not changed and Entodinium simplex was the major ciliate population for both treatments. It was from 81.21 to 89.12% on urea feeding group and from 84.6 to 88.3% of total number of ciliates on urea plus Zeolite feeding group.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1146-1156
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• 2021

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the effect of two plant additives, rich in polyphenolic compounds, supplemented to sheep diets on microorganisms and carbohydrate fermentation in rumen. Methods: In the experiment, 6 ewes of the Polish Mountain breed were fitted with ruminal cannulas. Sheep were divided into three feeding groups. The study was performed in a cross-over design of two animals in each group, with three experimental periods (n = 6 per each group). The animals were fed a control diet (CON) or additionally received 3 g of dry and milled lingonberry leaves (VVI) or oak bark (QUE). Additionally, plant material was analyzed for tannins concentration. Results: Regardless of sampling time, QUE diet increased the number of total protozoa, as well as Entodinium spp., Diplodinium spp. and Isotrichidae family, while decreased bacterial mass. In turn, a reduced number of Diplodinium spp. and increased Ophryoscolex spp. population were noted in VVI fed sheep. During whole sampling time (0, 2, 4, and 8 h), the number of protozoa in ruminal fluid of QUE sheep was gradually reduced as opposed to animals receiving CON and VVI diet, where rapid shifts in the protozoa number were observed. Moreover, supplementing sheep with QUE diet increased molar proportions of butyrate and isoacids in ruminal fluid. Unfortunately, none of the tested additives affected gas production. Conclusion: The addition of VVI or QUE in a small dose to sheep diets differently affected rumen microorganisms and fermentation parameters, probably because of various contribution of catechins in tested plant materials. However, it is stated that QUE diet seems to create more favorable conditions for growth and development of ciliates. Nonetheless, the results of the present study showed that VVI and QUE additives could serve as potential natural modulators of microorganism populations and, consequently, carbohydrate digestion in ruminants.