title: Moderation of ruminal fermentation by ciliated protozoa in cattle fed a high-grain diet.
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)
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506-1600.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Nagaraja
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Towne
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Beharka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D016798:Ciliophora / Q000378:metabolism*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004032:Diet; D002523:Edible Grain; D005285:Fermentation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007773:Lactates / Q000378:metabolism; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008297:Male; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates; D019344:Lactic Acid