• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.70-74
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• 2007

An in vitro study was carried out to investigate the differences in rumen microbes and fiber degradation capacity between sheep and goats. Three local male sheep and three Inner Mongolia male cashmere goats (aged 1.5 to 2 years; weight 25.0 to 32.0 kg) were each fitted with a permanent rumen cannula used to provide rumen fluid. Cycloheximide was used to eliminate rumen anaerobic fungi. The results showed that the quantities of fungal zoospores in the culture fluid of the control group were significantly greater in the sheep than in the goats; however, bacteria and protozoa counts were significantly higher in goats than in sheep. The digestibility of straw dry matter did not differ significantly between the two species before elimination of fungi, but tended to be higher for sheep (55.4%) than for goats (53.3%). The results also indicated that bacteria counts increased significantly after elimination of anaerobic fungi; however, the digestibility of straw dry matter significantly decreased by 12.1% and 8.6% for sheep and goats respectively. This indicated that the anaerobic fungi of the rumen played an important role in degradation of fiber.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.131-138
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• 2009

Among rumen microbes, bacteria play important roles in the biological degradation of plant fiber due to their large biomass and high activity. To maximize the utilization of fiber components such as cellulose and hemicellulose by ruminant animals, the ecology and functions of rumen bacteria should be understood in detail. Recent genome sequencing analyses of representative fibrolytic bacterial species revealed that the number and variety of enzymes for plant fiber digestion clearly differ between Fibrobacter succinogenes and Ruminococcus flavefaciens. Therefore, the mechanism of plant fiber digestion is also thought to differ between these two species. Ecology of individual fibrolytic bacterial species has been investigated using pure cultures and electron microscopy. Recent advances in molecular biology techniques complement the disadvantages of conventional techniques and allow accurate evaluation of the ecology of specific bacteria in mixed culture, even in situ and in vivo. Molecular monitoring of fibrolytic bacterial species in the rumen indicated the predominance of F. succinogenes. Nutritive interactions between fibrolytic and non-fibrolytic bacteria are important in maintaining and promoting fibrolytic activity, mainly in terms of crossfeeding of metabolites. Recent 16S rDNA-based analyses suggest that presently recognized fibrolytic species such as F. succinogenes and two Ruminococcus species with fibrolytic activity may represent only a small proportion of the total fibrolytic population and that uncultured bacteria may be responsible for fiber digestion in the rumen. Therefore, characterization of these unidentified bacteria is important to fully understand the physiology and ecology of fiber digestion. To achieve this, a combination of conventional and modern techniques could be useful.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.44-49
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• 2003

Effects of supplementation with ruminal epithelial cells on fiber-degrading activity and cell growth of Ruminococcus albus (R. albus, strain 7) was tested using a basal substrate of rice straw and formulated concentrate. Cultures of R. albus alone and R. albus with rumen protozoa were grown at $39^{\circ}C$ for 48 h with an 8.4% crude protein (CP) substrate, 33% of the CP supplemented with either ruminal epithelial cells or defatted soybean meal. The ruminal epithelial cells had lower amounts of rumen soluble and degradable protein fractions as compared to defatted soybean meal, as determined by an enzymatic method, and the same was found with amino acid composition of protein hydrolysates. Ruminal epithelial cells were directly utilized by the R. albus, and resulted in greater growth of cell-wall free bacteria compared to defatted soybean meal. The effect of epithelial cells on bacterial growth was enhanced by the presence of rumen protozoa. In consistency with cultures of R. albus and R. albus with rumen protozoa, fermentative parameters such as dry matter degradability and total volatile fatty acid did not differ between supplementation with ruminal epithelial cells or defatted soybean meal.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.558-566
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• 2016

Biotic agents such as fumarate-reducing bacteria can be used for controlling methane (CH₄) production in the rumen. Fumarate-reducing bacteria convert fumarate to succinate by fumarate reductase, ultimately leading to the production of propionate. Fumarate-reducing bacteria in the genus Enterococcus were isolated from rumen fluid samples from slaughtered Korean native goats. The enterococci were identified as Enterococcus faecalis SROD5 and E. faecium SROD by phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences. The fumarate reductase activities of the SROD5 and SROD strains were 42.13 and 37.05 mM NADH oxidized/min/mg of cellular nitrogen (N), respectively. Supplementation of rumen fermentation in vitro with the SROD5 and SROD strains produced significantly higher propionate, butyrate, and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations than controls at 12 h; VFA concentrations tended to increase after 24 h of incubation. The generated CH₄ concentration was significantly lower in the SROD5 and SROD treatment groups after 24 h of incubation. These findings indicate that E. faecium SROD has potential as a direct-fed microbial additive for increasing total VFAs while decreasing CH₄ production in rumen fermentation in vitro.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.451-456
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• 2000

Fifty mid-lactation Holstein cows were used in a six-week feeding trial to study effects of high-forage, and high-fat diets on blood constituents, rumen fermentation and dry matter digestibility. Cows were divided into 10 replicates, each consisting of five cows. Each cow was assigned to a control (diet 1) or one of the four experimental diets (high-forage (75%), high-fat (7.5%) (diet 2); high-forage. medium-fat (5.0%) (diet 3); medium forage (65%), high-fat (diet 4); medium-forage, medium-fat (diet 5)), or a control diet containing about 50% forage and 2% fat. All diets were isonitrogenous (17.7% crude protein). The forage mixture consisted of 20% alfalfa hay, 40% alfalfa haylage, and 40% corn silage. Supplemental fat included 80% rumen-protected fat and 20% yellow grease. A non-significant difference was observed in concentrations of blood glucose for cows on different experimental and control diets. Plasma nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were higher in cows consuming experimental diets than those consuming the control diet. However, differences in NEFA concentrations in the plasma of cows consuming diets with different forage and fat levels were not significant. Rumen pH, concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in rumen contents, and dry matter digestibility of control and experimental diets, and diets with different levels of forage and supplemental fat did not differ significantly.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 1991

A series of in vitro incubation studies with washed rumen bacteria were conducted to determine the influence of incubation time and concentrations of peptides, alanine, ammonia nitrogen and carbohydrate on the rate of peptide disappearance and on bacterial growth. Disappearance rate of tri-alanine (ala3) under various conditions was between 30.6 and $58.2mg\;hr^-$ per gram bacterial dry matter. Ala3 was removed from the incubation medium in an almost linear fashion as incubation time and ala3 concentration was increased. Washed rumen bacteria utilized ala3 faster than di-l-alanine (ala2) at all concentrations. Adding 9mM carbohydrate significantly increased ala3 disappearance, but level of ammonia nitrogen had no influence on ala3 disappearance. The presence of alanine in the medium significantly lowered ala3 utilization by rumen bacteria. Bacterial dry matter and nitrogen growth yield were not influenced by alanine and peptides when incubation medium already contained a sufficient level of ammonia nitrogen. Increased ammonia nitrogen in the presence of ala3 did not stimulate bacterial growth. Carbohydrate significantly increased bacterial dry matter and nitrogen growth as expected. Results indicate that the rate of peptide utilization by rumen bacteria may be altered by type and concentration of peptides, and energy supply, and this may be mediated through changes in numbers and type of bacteria.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.186-188
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• 1999

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of four levels (0, 10, 20, 40 %) of sugar-beet pulp (SB pulp) supplementation to Italian ryegrass hay (IRG hay) on the fiber degradability of IRG hay in the rumen of goats. The following results were obtained: Degradabilities of DM, NDF, ADF and hemicellulose of IRG hay in the rumen increased significantly (p<0.05) by 10 % level supplementation of SB pulp to IRG hay. This was probably due to the increased numbers (p<0.05) of total viable bacteria, pectin-fermenting, xylan-fermenting and cellulolytic bacteria in the rumen in the increased supply of degradable pectic substances and hemicellulose at 10% level supplementation of SB pulp pectin. In 40% supplementation of SB pulp, ruminal pH was lowered by the fermentation of increased amount of molasses from SB pulp, resulting in the depression of growth of fiber fermenting bacteria and hence the decrease in degradabilities of cell wall fractions. It was suggested from this study that the sugar-beet pulp supplementation to forages at the level of 10% in the total diet increased fiber degradation of forage in the rumen of goats.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.127-135
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• 1987

Ruminal and abomasal motility after electroacupuncture was investigated in normal goats and in goats with induced hypocalcaemia. Electroacupuncture was performed with a current of 1 volt and 3Hz at the acupoints of Tien Ping(positive) and Pai Hui(negative) for 30 minutes. The adequate range of electroacupuncture stimulation for goats was 1 to 2 volt and 2 to 3 Hz. After electroacupuncture stimulation in normal goats, rates of rumen and abomasal contractions were not changed or were slightly increased, but amplitudes of rumen and abomasal motility markedly increased. The effects of electroacupuncture stimulation lasted from about 10 minutes to 30 minutes after the end of electroacupuncture. The amplitudes of rumen motility were increased by the administration of bethanechol chlorids in goats. Ruminal contractions were not influenced by electroacupuncture following atropine sulphate. The rates of rumen and abomasal movements were not changed, but its amplitudes were reduced by inducing hypocalcaemia in goats. Motilily of the rumen and abomasum was not accelerated by electroacupuncture in goats with induced hypocalcaemia.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.206-212
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of biological membrane transfer modifier, lysophospholipd (LPLs) on the parameters from in vitro rumen simulated fermentation. Commercially available LPLs product (Lipidol$^{TM}$) was supplemented into experimental diets which consisted of orchard grass and concentrate diet (60:40) in different levels (0.1%, 0.3% and 0.5%). Then in vitro rumen simulated fermentation was performed. Although, a declining trend of pH was found in treatments, all pH values were detected in a range relevant to normal rumen fermentation. Gas production, ammonia nitrogen and total VFA production were greatly influenced by the supplementation of LPLs. All parameters were increased along with increased levels of LPLs in diet. As a result, 0.1% of Lipidol$^{TM}$ is recommended based on the determined in vitro rumen fermentative parameters in this study.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.52-57
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• 2020

In rumen in vitro experiments, although nitrogen gas (N₂) flushing has been widely used, its effects on rumen fermentation characteristics are not clearly determined. The present study is the first to evaluate the effects of N₂ flushing on rumen fermentation characteristics in in vitro batch culture system by comparing with new applicable non-metabolizable gas: argon (Ar). The rumen fluid was taken from two Korean native heifers followed by incubation for 3, 9, 12, and 24 h with N₂ or Ar flushing. As a result, in all incubation time, N₂ flushing resulted in higher total gas production than Ar flushing (p < 0.01). Additionally, in N₂ flushing group, ammonia nitrogen was increased (p < 0.01). However, volatile fatty acids profiles and pH were not affected by the flushing gases (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that N₂ flushing can influence the rumen nitrogen metabolism via increased ammonia nitrogen concentration and Ar flushing can be used as a new alternative flushing gas.