Effect of the tropical forage calliandra on microbial protein synthesis and ecology in the rumen.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of condensed tannins in Calliandra calothyrsus (calliandra) on rumen microbial function.


RESULTS
Microbial populations, ruminal protein synthesis and fermentation end-products were measured in sheep fed roughage hay supplemented with calliandra (30%), with and without inclusions of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to counteract the effect of tannin. Molecular and conventional enumeration techniques were used to quantify rumen bacteria, fungi and protozoa, and protein synthesis was predicted from estimates of urinary purine excretion. The total number of cellulolytic bacteria, including populations of Fibrobacter succinogenes and Ruminococcus spp., was significantly lower in sheep supplemented with calliandra and these populations increased when animals were treated with PEG. By contrast, protozoa and fungi and the microbial group containing Bacteroides-Porphyromonas-Prevotella bacteria appeared to be less affected. The efficiency of microbial protein synthesis in the rumen was not altered significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
Calliandra caused significant shifts in rumen microbial populations without changing the efficiency of protein synthesis.


CONCLUSIONS
The effect of calliandra tannins on rumen digestion may result more from complexing with nutrients than direct inhibition of micro-organisms.
McSweeney
C S
CS
CSIRO Tropical Agriculture, Long Pocket Laboratories, Indooroopilly, QLD, Australia. chris.mcsweeney@tag.csiro.au
Palmer
B
B
Bunch
R
R
Krause
D O
DO
D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004032:Diet; D004463:Ecology; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005658:Fungi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000378:metabolism; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D006109:Poaceae / Q000378:metabolism; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000378:metabolism; D011687:Purines / Q000652:urine; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D012417:Rumen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D012756:Sheep / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D013634:Tannins / Q000494:pharmacology
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D005227:Fatty Acids; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D011687:Purines; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D013634:Tannins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D000641:Ammonia