Effect of defaunation and refaunation of the rumen on rumen fermentation and N-flow in the duodenum of sheep
- 1 September 1986
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Informa UK Limited in Archives of Animal Nutrition
- Vol. 36 (9), 827-837
- https://doi.org/10.1080/17450398609434349
Abstract
In order to confirm earlier fragmentary results, the effect of defaunation and refaunation of the rumen on the fermentation pattern and flow of N-components in the proximal duodenum of two sheep was investigated. Defaunation had no effect on acetic acid as a proportion of the total volatile fatty acids in the rumen, while the proportions of propionic acid increased with a concomitant decrease in butyrate. Refaunation resulted in lower acetic acid and higher butyric acid proportions. The concentration of ammonia N in the rumen was clearly decreased after defaunation, already indicating an effect of the elimination of protozoa on nitrogen metabolism in the rumen. Defaunation also increased significantly the flow of total N, non ammonia N and individual and total amino acids in the proximal duodenum. Defaunation resulted in higher bacterial growth efficiency, significantly in one sheep, but the decrease after refaunation was statistically significant for both sheep. Determination of rumen digestibility of organic matter and acid detergent fibre (ADF) revealed lower values in the absence of the protozoa, while total digestibility was only influenced to a much lower extent. This indicated a shift of digestion from rumen to the lower digestive tract. Finally, earlier work is discussed in the light of the present findings.Keywords
This publication has 27 references indexed in Scilit:
- Influence of substrate and microbial interaction on efficiency of rumen microbial growthReproduction Nutrition Développement, 1986
- Diaminopimelic Acid Content of Feeds and Rumen Bacteria and Its Usefulness as a Rumen Bacterial MarkerJournal of Dairy Science, 1982
- The effect of defaunation on the growth of lambs fed three urea containing dietsArchives of Animal Nutrition, 1982
- Influence of the Partial Replacement of Milk Protein by Soybean Protein Isolates with Different Physical Properties on the Performance and Nitrogen Digestibility of Early-Weaned PigsJournal of Animal Science, 1981
- Effect of defaunation on the metabolism of rumen micro-organismsBritish Journal of Nutrition, 1979
- The effects of defaunation of the rumen on the growth of lambs on low-protein-high-energy dietsBritish Journal of Nutrition, 1979
- The effects of defaunation of the rumen on the growth of cattle on low-protein high-energy dietsBritish Journal of Nutrition, 1978
- The effect of the absence of rumen ciliate protozoa on growing lambs fed on a roughage–concentrate dietBritish Journal of Nutrition, 1971
- Effect of Early Establishment of Ciliate Protozoa in the Rumen on Microbial Activity and Growth of Early Weaned Buffalo CalvesJournal of Dairy Science, 1967
- Influence of Protozoa upon Rumen Acid Production and Liveweight Gains in LambsJournal of Animal Science, 1965