Comparison of rumen fluid from South African game species and from sheep to digest tanniniferous browse

Jones, R. J.; Meyer, James H.; Bechaz, F.M.; Stoltz, M. A.; Palmer, Brian D.; Merwe, GD van der

doi:10.1071/ar00107

Cited by 27 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…In agreement with the results of Jones et al. (), the present study supports the use of domesticated ruminants as model animals when assessing the digestibility of food consumed by browsing game species. The significant interaction effects on the in vitro fermentation parameters in the present study rather arose due to the incubated samples of the white water lily root, which suggested an existence of a differently dietary adapted ruminal digestion in moose versus dairy cows as previously proposed by Gordon, Pérez‐Barberìa, and Cuartas ().…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

An in vitro evaluation of browser and grazer fermentation efficiency and microbiota using European moose spring and summer foods

Krizsan

Mateos‐Rivera

Bertilsson

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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Evolutionary morphological and physiological differences between browsers and grazers contribute to species‐specific digestion efficiency of food resources. Rumen microbial community structure of browsers is supposedly adapted to characteristic nutrient composition of the diet source. If this assumption is correct, domesticated ruminants, or grazers, are poor model animals for assessing the nutritional value of food consumed by browsing game species. In this study, typical spring and summer foods of the European moose (Alces alces) were combined with rumen fluid collected from both dairy cows (Bos taurus) and from moose, with the aim of comparing fermentation efficiency and microbial community composition. The nutritional value of the food resources was characterized by chemical analysis and advanced in vitro measurements. The study also addressed whether or not feed evaluation based on in vitro techniques with cattle rumen fluid as inoculum could be a practical alternative when evaluating the nutritional value of plants consumed by wild browsers. Our results suggest that the fermentation characteristics of moose spring and summer food are partly host‐specific and related to the contribution of the bacterial phyla Firmicutes and Bacteriodetes to the rumen microbial community. Host‐specific adaptations of the ruminal microbial community structure could be explained from the evolutionary adaptations related to feeding habitats and morphophysiological differences between browsers and grazers. However, the observed overall differences in microbial community structure could not be related to ruminal digestion parameters measured in vitro. The in vitro evaluation of digestion efficiency reveals that equal amounts of methane were produced across all feed samples regardless of whether the ruminal fluid was from moose or dairy cow. The results of this study suggested that the nutritional value of browsers' spring and summer food can be predicted using rumen fluid from domesticated grazers as inoculum in in vitro assessments of extent of digestion when excluding samples of the white water lily root, but not of fermentation characteristics as indicated by the proportions of individual fermentation fatty acids to the total of volatile fatty acids.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

An in vitro evaluation of browser and grazer fermentation efficiency and microbiota using European moose spring and summer foods

Krizsan

Mateos‐Rivera

Bertilsson

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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“…For example, in a small study Hobson et al (1975) found that the rumen microflora from red deer (Cervus elaphus) fed on a grass diet had a higher fermentation rate on grass hay substrate than on a heather (Calluna vulgaris, a dwarf shrub) substrate. On the other hand, Jones et al (2001) suggested that the rumen microflora of African species of ruminants which browse would be more efficient at digesting browse material than would that of hay-fed sheep, yet no such evidence was found in their study to support this hypothesis. Where interspecific differences in microbial activity have been found, these seem to be associated with differences between species in the diet consumed rather than animal species-specific adaptations (Van Gylswyk and Giesecke 1973;Giesecke and Van Gylswyk 1975;Hoppe et al 1977aHoppe et al , 1977bKennedy et al 1987;Odenyo et al 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

The influence of adaptation of rumen microflora on in vitro digestion of different forages by sheep and red deer

Gordon¹,

Pérez‐Barbería²,

Cuartas³

2002

Can. J. Zool.

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The rumen microflora ecosystem adapts to the diet consumed by the animal. We tested the extent to which this adaptation facilitates or retards the digestion of plant-based forages. Following adaptation of sheep (Ovis aries) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) to diets containing different mixtures of alfalfa, grass, and heather (a dwarf shrub), an in vitro digestion technique was used to compare the ability of the rumen microflora to digest the mixtures of substrates to which they were adapted with their ability to digest different mixtures of the same substrates. In vitro digestion of different substrates was slightly greater in rumen liquor derived from sheep than in that derived from red deer for each of the different substrates, but the effect was not significant. Digestibility in sheep was independent of how the feed was presented (diet of equal proportions of alfalfa, grass, and heather in each meal (D-EQ): mean in vitro digestibility = 37.3%; alfalfa, grass, and heather presented sequentially on different days (D-SEQ): mean in vitro digestibility = 37.7%, SE of differences = 1.30%, p > 0.05). However, in red deer there was a significant effect of method of diet presentation (D-EQ: mean in vitro digestibility = 36.9%; D-SEQ: mean in vitro digestibility = 34.2%, SE of differences = 1.30%, p < 0.05), digestibility being substantially lower for D-SEQ than for D-EQ. Overall, the results demonstrated that whilst there were no species-specific differences in overall digestion efficiency, dietary adaptation had an effect on substrate digestion efficiency, with rumen microbes adapted to high-quality diets digesting these more efficiently than low-quality diets.Résumé : L'écosystème constitué par la microflore du rumen s'adapte au régime alimentaire. Nous avons tenté de déterminer à quel point cette adaptation facilite ou retarde la digestion dans le cas d'un régime végétarien. Après l'adaptation de moutons (Ovis aries) et de cerfs d'Europe (Cervus elaphus) à des régimes constitués de divers mélan-ges de luzerne, d'herbe et de bruyère (un buisson nain), nous avons comparé la capacité des différentes microflores de digérer les mélanges auxquels elles ont été adaptées au préalable à leur capacité de digérer ces mêmes mélanges in vitro. La digestion in vitro de différents substrats est légèrement plus rapide dans le fluide du rumen du mouton que dans celui du rumen du cerf pour chacun des substrats, mais l'effet n'est pas significatif. La digestibilité des aliments chez le mouton ne dépend pas de la manière dont l'animal est nourri (luzerne, herbe et bruyère en proportions égales à chaque repas (D-EQ) : digestibilité moyenne in vitro = 37,3 %; présentation de luzerne, d'herbe et de bruyère tour à tour, à différentes journées (D-SEQ) = 37,7 %, erreur type de difference = 1,30 %, p > 0,05). Cependant, la méthode de présentation des aliments affecte leur digestibilité chez le cerf d'Europe (D-EQ : moyenne = 36,9 %; D-SEQ = 34,2 %, erreur type de difference = 1,30 %, p < 0,05) et la digestibilité des aliments donnés en séquence ...

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“…Theoretically, herbivores consuming large amounts of tanniniferous forage should possess adaptations to counter any negative effects. Jones et al (2001), however, did not find in vitro evidence for the hypothesis that ruminal microflora of browsing ungulates were better equipped to handle tanniniferous forages than those of grazing ungulates and opined, in keeping with Robbins et al (1991) and Shimada (2006), that binding of ingested tannins with proline-rich saliva may differentiate species that can consume diets high in tannins without ill effects. Of note, salivary proteins of mule deer reduced FN losses per unit of tannin ingested (Robbins et al 1991).…”

Section: Study Focusmentioning

confidence: 91%

Facts From Feces: Nitrogen Still Measures Up as a Nutritional Index for Mammalian Herbivores

2008

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Fecal nitrogen (FN) has been applied widely as an index of dietary quality in studies of nutritional ecology of free‐ranging and captive vertebrate herbivores, particularly ruminants. Three related articles in the Journal of Wildlife Management (JWM; Leslie and Starkey 1985, 1987; Hobbs 1987) have been cited (n = 150) in 87 publications and 39 peer‐reviewed journals. The critique by Hobbs (1987) and the reply by Leslie and Starkey (1987) on limitations and appropriate applications of FN have been used to justify use of FN or negate its value as a nutritional proxy. We undertook a retrospective analysis of FN applications since 1985, largely because we sensed that methodological cautions noted in the 3 JWM publications were not being followed, leading to faulty conclusions and management applications, and that application protocols needed updating. From January 1986 through July 2007, the 107 species‐by‐continent applications of FN, citing the 3 JWM publications singly or in any combination, were diverse; FN was used in various ways on 5 continents and for 50 wild and domestic species. Cumulative rates of departure from recommended FN applications increased in recent years, largely in studies that compare different species while failing to fully acknowledge that differences likely reflected digestive capabilities rather than differences in some aspect of dietary intake. Post‐1985 research on plant secondary compounds (e.g., tannins) has refined limitations to the application of FN, permitting more straightforward protocols than were possible in 1985. Although use does not necessarily reflect value, the number of published applications during the past 22 years indicates that peer reviewers from a variety of scientific disciplines view FN as a suitable proxy for nutritional status, which can be used to contrast study units when carefully defined by the study design. Any index can have shortcomings, and there are still circumstances when application of FN is problematic. Precise prediction of intake with FN under field conditions is still hampered by inherent variability, but contrasts of comparable study units and species can be appropriate. Published protocols for FN, as amended herein, should be adhered to, and conclusions are strengthened by the use of multiple nutritional indices.

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Comparison of rumen fluid from South African game species and from sheep to digest tanniniferous browse

Cited by 27 publications

References 16 publications

An in vitro evaluation of browser and grazer fermentation efficiency and microbiota using European moose spring and summer foods

An in vitro evaluation of browser and grazer fermentation efficiency and microbiota using European moose spring and summer foods

The influence of adaptation of rumen microflora on in vitro digestion of different forages by sheep and red deer

Facts From Feces: Nitrogen Still Measures Up as a Nutritional Index for Mammalian Herbivores

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