Rumen microbial variation and nutrient utilisation in mithun (Bos frontalis) under different feeding regimes

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of feeding different diets on fermentation, enzyme activities and microbial population in the rumen fluid of mithun (Bos frontalis). In a randomized block design, 20 male mithun (6-8 months of age, 152 ± 12.6 kg body weight) were randomly divided into four experimental groups (n = 5/group) and fed experimental diets ad libitum for 180 days. The diet R1 contained tree foliages (TF), R2 comprised of 50% concentrate mixture (CM) and 50% TF, R3 contained 50% CM and 50% rice straw, and R4 contained 50% CM, 25% TF and 25% rice straw. Rumen liquor was collected at 0 and 180 days of the experiment for estimation of different ruminal parameters and a digestion trial was conducted at the end of the experiment. Rumen fluid was analysed for pH, ammonia nitrogen (NH3 -N), total-N, ruminal enzymes, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) and microbial profile. The relative quantification of ruminal microbes was carried out with real-time PCR using bacteria as the house keeping gene. The dry matter intake, nutrients digestibility, body weight gain, NH3 -N, total-N, carboxymethyl cellulase, avicelase, xylanase, amylase, protease and molar proportion of butyrate were (p < 0.05) higher in mithun fed R2 , R3 and R4 compared to those fed R1 diet. In contrast, increased (p < 0.05) ruminal pH, molar proportion of acetate and, acetate to propionate ratio was recorded in mithun fed only TF than those fed concentrate supplemented diets. Similarly, an increase (p < 0.05) in the population of Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and total bacteria were evident in mithun fed R2 , R3 and R4 compared to those fed R1 . Therefore, it is concluded that TF 25% and/or rice straw 25% along with CM 50% may be fed to the growing mithun for improved rumen ecology, nutrient utilization and thus better performance under stall fed system.

Effect of Feeding Improved Grass Hays and Eragrostis tef Straw Silage on Milk Yield, Nitrogen Utilization, and Methane Emission of Lactating Fogera Dairy Cows in Ethiopia

“…We found here that the increase in ruminal ammonia N concentration was directly associated with the observed plasma urea concentration ( Figure 1 a). In agreement with our findings, Migliano et al [ 59 ] likewise reported a strong positive correlation between ruminal ammonia N and plasma urea N. The inclusion of improved forages in TMR diets might contribute to highly degradable protein sources that decreased ruminal ammonia N concentrations, but ruminal ammonia N likely remained adequate for microbial growth [ 60 ]. The ruminal pH that we obtained is normal for lactating dairy cows fed roughage-based diets [ 52 ], perhaps because the dietary NDF concentrations of all of the dietary treatments were sufficient to maintain the optimal ruminal pH for cows fed high-forage diets.…”

Shift of Feeding Strategies from Grazing to Different Forage Feeds Reshapes the Rumen Microbiota To Improve the Ability of Tibetan Sheep (Ovis aries) To Adapt to the Cold Season

“…Given that when grazing, Tibetan sheep ingest a high-variety diet, as they encounter different habitats and a variety of food types in the pasture, this can cause adaptive responses of the intestinal microbiota. As such, feeding strategy choice may provide a unique opportunity to manipulate the complex microbial ecosystem ( 22 ). Studies have demonstrated distinct rumen fermentation patterns of sheep switched from natural grazing to indoor feed depending on the feeding strategies (i.e., semigrazing with supplementation or barn feeding) ( 23 ).…”

Effects of Different Levels of Molybdenum on Rumen Microbiota and Trace Elements Changes in Tissues from Goats

“…Nevertheless, both of their vitalities were depressed in high-Mo group. Ammonia nitrogen concentration had a close relationship with bacteria, and more than 50 % dietary protein would be degraded into ammonia nitrogen by ruminal bacteria [25,26]. It was suggested that excessive Mo had profound effects on activity of microorganism samples, which disturbed absorption and utilization of nutrients [20].…”