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Phenotypic and phylogenetic characterization of ruminal tannin-tolerant bacteria.

The 16S rRNA sequences and selected phenotypic characteristics were determined for six recently isolated bacteria that can tolerate high levels of hydrolyzable and condensed tannins. Bacteria were isolated from the ruminal contents of animals in different geographic locations, including Sardinian sheep (Ovis aries), Honduran and Colombian goats (Capra hircus), white-tail deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from upstate New York, and Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) from Oregon. Nearly complete sequences of the small-subunit rRNA genes, which were obtained by PCR amplification, cloning, and sequencing, were used for phylogenetic characterization. Comparisons of the 16S rRNA of the six isolates showed that four of the isolates were members of the genus Streptococcus and were most closely related to ruminal strains of Streptococcus bovis and the recently described organism Streptococcus gallolyticus. One of the other isolates, a gram-positive rod, clustered with the clostridia in the low-G+C-content group of gram-positive bacteria. The sixth isolate, a gram-negative rod, was a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae in the gamma subdivision of the class Proteobacteria. None of the 16S rRNA sequences of the tannin-tolerant bacteria examined was identical to the sequence of any previously described microorganism or to the sequence of any of the other organisms examined in this study. Three phylogenetically distinct groups of ruminal bacteria were isolated from four species of ruminants in Europe, North America, and South America. The presence of tannin-tolerant bacteria is not restricted by climate, geography, or host animal, although attempts to isolate tannin-tolerant bacteria from cows on low-tannin diets failed.

Animals↗

Continuous culture of ruminal microorganisms in chemically defined medium. II. Culture medium studies.

Ruminal ciliates have been grown in continuous culture in chemically defined media and in the absence of viable bacteria. Oligotrichic ruminal ciliates seem to require insoluble carbohydrates for growth; the holotrichic ciliates require soluble carbohydrates, but at low concentrations. Both groups of ciliates utilize amino acids as their principal nitrogen source when these are supplied in micromolar concentrations; at millimolar concentrations, amino acids are toxic, possibly from excessive ammonia formation arising from ciliate deaminase activity. Holotrichic ruminal ciliates are destroyed by overdeposition of amylopectin when glucose is present above 0.1% concentration in the medium. Ecological requirements of ruminal ciliates are also described.

Amino Acids↗

Dissimilation of tryptophan and related indolic compounds by ruminal microorganisms in vitro.

Intraruminal doses of L-tryptophan cause acute pulmonary edema and emphysema in cattle. The D and L isomers of tryptophan and 22 related indolic compounds were incubated with ruminal microorganisms in vitro. Incubation of L-[U-benzene ring-(14)C]tryptophan with ruminal microorganisms for 24 h resulted in 39% of the added radioactivity being incorporated into skatole, 7% into indole, and 4% into indoleacetate (IAA). D-Tryptophan was not degraded to any of these metabolites. The major pathway of skatole formation from L-tryptophan appeared to be by the decarboxylation of IAA. Incubation of [2-(14)C]IAA with ruminal microorganisms for 24 h resulted in 38% incorporation into skatole. L-[5-Hydroxy]tryptophan was degraded to 5-hydroxyskatole and 5-hydroxyindole, whereas 5-hydroxyindoleacetate was degraded to only 5-hydroxyskatole. Incubation of indolepyruvate, indolelactate, and indolealdehyde with ruminal microorganisms resulted in the formation of both skatole and indole. Under similar conditions, indoleacetaldehyde was converted to IAA and tryptophol. The addition of increasing concentrations of glucose (0 to 110 mM) reduced the formation of both skatole and indole from L-tryptophan and resulted in the accumulation of IAA. Antibiotics reduced the degradation of L-tryptophan to skatole and indole, with kanamycin and neomycin particularly effective in reducing the decarboxylation of IAA to skatole.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗

Functional and molecular biological evidence of SGLT-1 in the ruminal epithelium of sheep.

Because of the effective catabolism of D-glucose to short-chain fatty acids by intraruminal microorganisms, the absorption of D-glucose from the rumen was thought to be of minor importance. However, clinical studies suggested that significant quantities of D-glucose are transported from the ruminal contents to the blood. We therefore tested the ruminal epithelium of sheep for the presence of Na(+)-glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT-1) on both the functional and mRNA levels. In the absence of an electrochemical gradient, 3-O-methylglucose (3-OMG) was net absorbed across isolated ruminal epithelia mounted in Ussing chambers. The net transport of 3-OMG followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics and was sensitive to phlorizin or decreasing Na(+) concentrations. The mucosal addition of 10 mM D-glucose induced an immediate, phlorizin-sensitive increase in short-circuit current (I(sc)). I(sc) could also be increased by serosal addition of D-glucose or D-mannose, but electrogenic uptake of D-glucose or 3-OMG added on the mucosal side was still detectable after serosal stimulation of I(sc). RT-PCR using primers specific for the ovine intestinal SGLT-1 with subsequent TA cloning and sequencing revealed 100% identity between the cloned cDNA and mRNA fragment 187-621 of ovine intestinal SGLT-1. In conclusion, the ruminal epithelium has a high-affinity SGLT-1, which indicates that it maintains the capacity for D-glucose absorption.

3-O-Methylglucose↗

Distributions of fibronectin, laminin, type I and IV collagens and carbonic anhydrase isozyme III during bovine ruminal epithelial development.

The present study describes the immunohistochemical distributions of extracellular matrices and the carbonic anhydrase isozyme III (CA-3) in the bovine ruminal epithelium during fetal development. Fibronectin (FN), laminin and type I and IV collagens were distributed in the ruminal subepithelial mesenchymal regions with nonspecific regionality during the gestational periods. At stages after about 59 cm crown-rump length (CRL), FN of the epithelial basement membrane disappeared, and CA-3 appeared in the basal epithelial cells of the root of the ruminal papillae, suggesting that the functional differentiation of the ruminal epithelium might start at around 59 cm CRL in bovine fetuses.

Animals↗

In vivo indicators of pathologic ruminal sulfide production in steers with diet-induced polioencephalomalacia.

Two groups of 3 120-160-kg Holstein steers were fed a diet high in carbohydrate and low in long fiber and either with or without added sodium sulfate. Prior to and during the course of feeding the experimental diet, the concentrations of rumen hydrogen sulfide gas and rumen fluid sulfide were determined by a simple sulfide detector tube method and by sulfide-selective electrode, respectively. Other measurements included rumen fluid pH, blood creatine kinase, and blood sulfhemoglobin. Two of the 3 steers fed the high-sulfate diet developed signs and lesions of polioencephalomalacia. Clinical signs included episodic ataxia and blunted or absent menace reaction. Increased ruminal H2S gas concentrations occurred in all 3 steers consuming the diet with added sulfate. The onset of clinical signs coincided with the onset of elevated H2S concentrations. These increases were 40-60 times the values measured in the steers consuming the diet without added sulfate. In contrast, increases in rumen fluid sulfide concentrations usually rose to 4 times that of control steers. The steers fed an identical diet but without added sulfate exhibited no signs or lesions of polioencephalomalacia and no elevations of sulfide in rumen gas or fluid. All steers had a modest decrease in rumen fluid pH associated with the transition to the concentrate diet. No significant changes were observed in any of the blood measurements of any of the steers. An additional pair of steers was fed the experimental diet with or without added sulfate to compare the ruminal H2S gas concentrations estimated by H2S detector tubes with those estimated by a different method of analysis utilizing charcoal trapping of H2S, conversion to sulfate, and measurement of the sulfate. Both methods yielded comparable estimates of H2S concentration. Overall, these data indicate that changes in rumen gas cap H2S concentrations are larger than changes in rumen fluid sulfide concentration and the estimation of rumen gas cap H2S concentration may be a practical approach to detecting pathologic increases in ruminal H2S gas. This simple, rapid, minimally invasive method should be useful for estimating the H2S content of ruminal gas under field conditions.

Animal Feed↗

Isomerization of stable isotopically labeled elaidic acid to cis and trans monoenes by ruminal microbes.

A previous study showed that oleic acid was converted by mixed ruminal microbes to stearic acid and also converted to a multitude of trans octadecenoic acid isomers. This study traced the metabolism of one of these trans C18:1 isomers upon its incubation with mixed ruminal microbes. Unlabeled and labeled (18-[13C]trans-9 C18:1) elaidic acid were each added to four in vitro batch cultures with three cultures inoculated with mixed ruminal bacteria and one uninoculated culture. Samples were taken at 0, 12, 24, and 48 h and analyzed for 13C enrichment in component fatty acids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. At 0 h of incubation, enrichment was detected only in elaidic acid. By 48 h of incubation, 13C enrichment was 18% (P < 0.01) for stearic acid, 7% to 30% (P < 0.01) for all trans C18:1 isomers having double bonds between carbons six through 16, and 5% to 10% for cis-9 and cis-11 monoenes. After 48 h, 13C enrichment in the uninoculated cultures was only detected in the added elaidic acid. This study shows trans fatty acids exposed to active ruminal cultures are converted to stearic acid but also undergo enzymic isomerization yielding a multitude of positional and geometric isomers.

Animals↗

Rumination syndrome in children and adolescents: diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the clinical features, results of diagnostic testing, and treatment outcomes for children and adolescents with rumination syndrome. METHODS: Review of the medical records for all 147 patients ages 5 to 20 diagnosed with rumination syndrome at our institution between 1975 and 2000. Data are presented as mean +/- the standard error of the mean. RESULTS: Sixty-eight percent were female. Age at diagnosis was 15.0 +/- 0.3 years. Symptom duration before diagnosis was 2.2 +/- 0.3 years, 73% missed school/work, and 46% had been hospitalized because of symptoms. Before diagnosis, 16 (11%) underwent surgery for evaluation or management of symptoms. Twenty-four (16%) had psychiatric disorders; 3.4% had anorexia or bulimia nervosa. All patients described postprandial regurgitation after almost every meal (2.7 +/- 0.1 meals per day). Weight loss was described by 42.2% (median: 7 kg). Additional symptoms included: abdominal pain, 38%; constipation, 21%; nausea, 17%; and diarrhea, 8%. Structural studies were normal. Gastric emptying of solids at 4 hours was delayed in 26 of 56 patients. Esophageal pH testing in 24 patients showed reflux/regurgitation in 54%. Gastroduodenal manometry in 65 patients showed characteristic rumination-waves in 40%. Outcome data (at median follow-up 10 months) were available for 54 patients. Symptoms resolved in 16 (30%) and improved in 30 (56%). CONCLUSIONS: Recognition of the clinical features of rumination syndrome in children and adolescents is essential; the diagnosis is often delayed and associated with morbidity. Extensive diagnostic testing is unnecessary. Early behavioral therapy is advocated, and patient outcomes are generally favorable.

Adolescent↗

Molecular epidemiologic features and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of various ribotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from humans and ruminants.

OBJECTIVES: To assess automated ribotyping for characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates and to identify their type prevalence and geographic distribution. SAMPLE POPULATION: 39 human and 56 ruminant P aeruginosa isolates. PROCEDURES: Isolates were identified by use of bacteriologic techniques and automated Pvull-based ribotyping. Susceptibility to antimicrobials was tested in vitro. Data were analyzed for index of discrimination; prevalence ratio; geographic distribution of ribotypes found only in humans, only in cows, or only in goats (single-host ribotypes); and geographic distribution of ribotypes found in humans and ruminants (multihost ribotypes). RESULTS: All isolates were typeable (45 ribotypes, 35 single-host ribotypes). Ribotyping index of discrimination was 0.976. More isolates (45.3%) than expected yielded multihost ribotypes (22% of all ribotypes). Although 8.6% of single-host ribotypes were found in 4 or more isolates, 60% of multihost ribotypes were found in 4 or more isolates. Ninety percent of multihost ribotypes were isolated from different geographic areas, whereas 3.0% of single-host ribotypes were isolated from different geographic areas. All ruminant isolates were susceptible to gentamicin and polymyxin B. In contrast, antibiogram profiles differed for human isolates from different geographic areas. Susceptibility to antimicrobials differentiated 6 isolates not distinguished by ribotyping. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Automated ribotyping with Pvull discriminated more isolates than in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility. In combination, both tests provided more information than either test alone. Given the greater prevalence and geographic distribution of multihost ribotypes, immunocompromised humans and lactating ruminants may have a greater risk for disease if exposed to multihost P aeruginosa ribotypes, compared with single-host ribotypes.

Animals↗

Validity and reliability of Spanish versions of the Ruminative Responses Scale-Short Form and the Distraction Responses Scale in a sample of Spanish high school and college students.

This study investigated the construct validity and reliability of the Spanish Ruminative Responses Scale-Short From, and the Distraction Responses Scale of the Response Styles Questionnaire for a sample of 727 Spanish high school and college students who responded anonymously and voluntarily to a questionnaire (293 men, 434 women; ages 16 to 29 years, M=18.8, SD=3.0). In addition to the above scales, the questionnaire included the Spanish forms of the Beck Depression Inventory, the Trait Anxiety Scale from the State-Trait Anxiety Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Subjective Happiness Scale. The internal consistency of the scales was satisfactory (Cronbach alpha=.86 for the Ruminative Responses Scale and .78 for the Distraction Responses Scale). As expected, scores on the Spanish Ruminative Responses Scale showed positive correlations with those on the Beck Depression Inventory and the Trait Anxiety Scale and negative associations with the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Subjective Happiness Scale. Conversely, the Spanish Distraction Responses Scale was negatively correlated with the Beck Depression Inventory and positively associated with the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Subjective Happiness Scale. These results provide evidence of appropriate reliability for research purposes. Furthermore, the correlational analysis supported prior findings that ruminative response and distraction response styles are differentially associated with reported depressed and positive moods.

Adolescent↗

Quantity and characteristics of microorganisms associated with ruminal fluid or particles.

An experiment was conducted to 1) determine quantity of microbial CP and DM associated with undigested feed particles, 2) quantify the amount of microorganisms removed from ruminally incubated forages and 3) compare forage disappearances (D) corrected for microbial contamination, using diaminopimelic acid (DAPA) ratios obtained from particle-associated or fluid-associated microorganisms. Samples of alfalfa hay, bermudagrass hay and orchardgrass hay placed in dacron bags were incubated via ruminal cannula for 6 and 12 h. Whole ruminal contents (WRC) were sampled at the time of bag removal and partitioned into fluid- and particle-associated microorganisms. Particle-associated microorganisms were further divided into loosely-associated (LA) and firmly associated (FA) microorganisms. Percentage microbial CP and DAPA, quantities of OM, CP (mg) and DAPA (micrograms), microbial contamination and microbial contribution to ruminal contents were not affected by time (P greater than .05). The highest concentrations of CP and DAPA were found in fluid and LA, respectively (P less than .01). The total amount (content) of OM, CP and DAPA were highest in FA and lowest in microbes in the fluid fraction. Firmly-associated microorganisms constituted 54.1% of the particle-associated population. Corrected DMD were higher (P less than .01) based on FA than on fluid and LA microbe compositions. Corrected CPD were similar (P greater than .10) between populations except at 6 h, when LA corrected CPD were lower. Theoretically, using FA microorganisms should give the most accurate correction for microbial contamination. However, results indicate that, although the three populations differed in composition, fluid and FA corrected CPD were similar. Corrections based on composition of any of these three populations will yield higher estimates of disappearance compared with uncorrected values.

Animal Feed↗

Influence of grain and monensin supplementation on ruminal fermentation, intake, digesta kinetics and incidence and severity of frothy bloat in steers grazing winter wheat pastures.

Three 10-d collection periods (April 4 to 14, early April, EApr; April 23 to May 3, late April, LApr; May 10 to 20, 1984, mid-May, MMay) were conducted to evaluate effects of no supplement (C), .5 kg-head-1.d-1 (as-fed basis) supplemental grain (steam-flaked milo, G) or G plus 170 mg monensin.head-1.d-1 (M) on forage intake and digestion by 12 ruminally cannulated beef steers (four/treatment; avg initially BW = 393 kg) grazing irrigated winter wheat pasture. Ruminal pH was greater (P less than .01) for M than for C or G during EApr but was not altered by treatments in LApr or MMay. Compared with C, ruminal NH3 was decreased (P less than .10) by G and M (5 h after supplementation) in EApr, decreased (P less than .05) by G (2h) and increased (P less than .05) by M (8 h) in LApr and decreased (P less than .10) by G (-1h) in MMay. Treatments had little influence on total VFA concentrations or on molar proportions of acetate and propionate. Butyrate molar proportion was decreased (P less than .10) by M during EApr and LApr, but not during MMay. Monensin increased (P less than .05) fluid passage rate compared with C and G in EApr but not in other periods, Particulate passage measurements did not differ (P greater than .10) among treatments within periods. Forage DM intake was not influenced (P greater than .10) by supplementation during any period. Extent of in situ forage DM disappearance was greater (P less than .10) for M than for C or G during EApr (12 and 30 h of incubation) but was not different (P greater than .10) in LApr or MMay. Incidence of frothy bloat was decreased (P less than .05) by M during EApr; this reduction may have been related to effects of M on ruminal pH, forage digestion and fluid passage.

Animal Feed↗

Modifications in growth and morphology of ovine jejunal and ruminal epithelia as affected by inert dietary substances.

Thirty-two lambs were used to study the effects of a nondegradable material in the alimentary tract on growth and morphology of ruminal and jejunal epithelia. Lambs were fed isoenergetic rations that differed only by addition of ground polyethylene. Eight of the lambs receiving each diet were given polyurethane cubes orally that were confined to the rumen. Lambs were slaughtered after 30 d; morphological and growth characteristics of the anterior-ventral and posterior-dorsal ruminal epithelia and jejunal epithelia were examined. Weights of the stomach complex were greater (P less than .05; 1.57 vs 1.48 kg) for lambs fed the polyethylene diet. Polyurethane cubes had no effect on weights of the stomach complex and small intestines. Deoxyribonucleic acid levels and both height and width of papillae were greater (P less than .05) in ruminal epithelial from lambs fed the diet with polyethylene than in those from lambs given the control diet. Protein and DNA levels in jejunal epithelia also were affected (P less than .05) by diet, averaging 8.2 mg/cm2 and 510 micrograms/cm2, respectively, for lambs fed the polyethylene diets vs 7.3 mg/cm2 and 417 micrograms/cm2 for lambs fed the control diet, respectively. Average villus height was greater (P less than .05) in jejunal epithelia of lambs fed the control diet than in jejunal epithelia of those given the polyethylene diet (553 vs 466 microns). Polyurethane cubes did not affect growth or morphological characteristics of either ruminal or jejunal epithelia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Degradation of cellulose and forage fiber fractions by ruminal cellulolytic bacteria alone and in coculture with phenolic monomer-degrading bacteria.

We hypothesized that bacterial species capable of metabolizing phenolic monomers may act as catalysts for forage fiber breakdown by increasing microbial access to cell wall polysaccharides. Ruminal cellulolytic bacteria alone and in combination with phenolic-degrading bacteria were examined for differences in their ability to degrade fiber fractions of alfalfa or bromegrass. Electron micrographs of Fibrobacter succinogenes S85 cultured in combination with the ruminal phenolic-degrading organisms Eubacterium oxidoreducens G41 and Syntrophococcus sucromutans S195 indicated that bromegrass was degraded more extensively by the triculture than by the monoculture. The sequential detergent system was used to quantify the digestibility of fiber components from alfalfa and bromegrass. F. succinogenes incubated with the two phenolic-degrading organisms did not degrade more cell wall material than did F. succinogenes alone. However, with two other ruminal cellulolytic organisms, Clostridium longisporum B6405 and Ruminococcus albus B6403, greater (P less than .05, P less than .10, respectively) amounts of hemicellulose were degraded (72 h in vitro fermentation) from whole-plant alfalfa when E. oxidoreducens and S. sucromutants were combined with the cellulolytic species than when their monocultures were tested. Similar increases were not observed using a NDF preparation of alfalfa as the substrate. Based on these in vitro experiments, it does not seem that E. oxidoreducens and S. sucromutans play an important role in improving forage fiber degradation by cellulolytic ruminal bacteria.

Animals↗

Fermentation characteristics and nutritional value of ruminal contents and blood ensiled with untreated or sodium hydroxide-treated wheat straw.

Bovine ruminal contents and blood were ensiled with wheat straw, either untreated or treated with 4% NaOH (DM basis), with and without addition of 5% dry molasses. Proportions of ruminal contents, blood, and straw were 45:15:40, wet basis, respectively. Wheat straw also was ensiled alone, and water was added to attain 43% DM. After 60 d, all silages had a desirable aroma. The pH of the ensiled mixtures of ruminal contents, blood, and untreated straw was 4.43 and 4.56, with and without molasses, respectively. Values for silages containing treated straw, with and without molasses, were 5.95 and 7.37, respectively. All silages had substantial levels of lactic acid (2.4 to 4.9%, DM basis). Addition of molasses increased (P less than .01) lactic acid concentrations. In a metabolism trial, 36 wethers were fed a 50% orchardgrass hay basal diet alone or supplemented with ensiled materials (1:1 ratio, DM basis) such that final diets had about 7 and 4% of their DM from ruminal contents and blood, respectively. Among the diets containing the ensiled mixtures, digestibilities of DM, OM, energy, NDF, ADF, cellulose, and hemicellulose were 6 to 20 percentage units higher (P less than .01) for silages containing treated vs untreated straw. Addition of molasses increased apparent digestibility only of CP and only in sheep fed ensiled mixtures with treated straw (interaction of straw treatment x molasses addition, P less than .05). Nitrogen balance was increased (P less than .05) from 1.6 g/d to 2.9 g/d by NaOH treatment of straw. Metabolizable energy was higher (P less than .05) for diets containing silages with NaOH-treated straw.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Technical note: isolation and characterization of sheep ruminal epithelial cells.

A system for the isolation and characterization of sheep ruminal epithelial cells has been developed. Ruminal papillae from the ventral cranial sac of 12- to 24-wk-old Dorset ram lambs were subjected to serial tryptic digestions. Initial digestions (two 15-min periods) in the series were used to remove keratinized cells of the stratum corneum, which were able to produce only small amounts of beta-hydroxybutyrate from butyrate (5.37 +/- .72 nmol/120 min/per milligram of dry cell weight). Later digest fractions, containing primarily cells from the stratum basale, exhibited high viabilities (75 to 95%) and proved capable of converting butyrate to beta-hydroxybutyrate at relatively high rates (33.6 +/- 6.7 nmol/120 min per milligram of dry cell weight). Neither acetate nor propionate underwent significant conversion to beta-hydroxybutyrate. However, addition of acetate inhibited (77.4% of control) and addition of propionate stimulated (200% of control) beta-hydroxybutyrate production. Acetate addition reduced the propionate-induced stimulation of beta-hydroxybutyrate production from butyrate (136% of control). These results are similar to those obtained from in vitro incubations of ruminal papillae and suggest that an isolated cell system may prove useful in the further study of ruminal epithelial metabolism.

Animals↗

Use of DNA probes to monitor nutritional effects on ruminal prokaryotes and Fibrobacter succinogenes S85.

We used DNA probes to study dietary effects on the prokaryotic population in the rumen. Procedures used to isolate and quantify prokaryotic 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) from the rumen using universal and species-specific DNA probes were evaluated. In this experiment, three ruminally fistulated steers were fed orchard-grass hay, and ruminal digesta were collected at 0, 3, and 9 h after offering hay (0800). Samples of ruminal digesta were taken from the interior portion of the digesta mat and from the fluid below the mat in the dorsal rumen. Freezing (-65 degrees C) and blending samples both increased (P less than .07) the yield of 16S rRNA from ruminal digesta. Extraction of prokaryotic rRNA was greater (P less than .04) when phenol buffered with sodium acetate was used than when it was buffered with hydroxymethyl-amino-methane. Prokaryotic 16S rRNA concentration of the fluid phase was similar (P greater than .10) at 0, 3, and 9 h after offering hay. Prokaryotic 16S rRNA concentration of the mat phase increased up to the 9 h after feeding. The proportion of Fibrobacter succinogenes remained constant in both digesta phases at all times measured. From these data we concluded that DNA probes can be used to monitor bacterial population shifts in the rumen.

Animals↗

Effects of a new molasses byproduct, concentrated separator byproduct, on nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation in cattle.

Continuous chromatographic separator techniques have allowed the extraction of more simple sugars from molasses (MOL). The resultant byproduct, concentrated separator byproduct (CSB), has reduced readily fermentable carbohydrates but elevated CP and mineral content. The feed value of CSB was compared to that of MOL in two separate trials. In Trial 1, a chopped forage mixture containing 84% meadow grass hay and 8% alfalfa hay was mixed with either CSB or MOL at 7.3% of DM. Diets were administered to four ruminally cannulated cows in a single reversal design. digestibility of DM, ADF, NDF, and CP were measured. Ruminal pH, ammonia nitrogen (NH3), VFA, total viable bacteria (TVB), cellulose-xylan fermenting bacteria (CXFB), and ciliated protozoa (PTZ) were evaluated. Blood profiles of electrolytes were also measured. Digestibility of DM, ADF, NDF, and CP were 69.03, 68.58; 57.48, 57.77; 65.62, 64.75; and 67.63, 65.07% for the MOL and CSB diets, respectively. Only CP digestibility differed (P less than .02). Ruminal pH, NH3, VFA, TVB, CXFB, and PTZ were 6.97, 6.93; 14.21, 16.71 mg/dL; 74.30, 74.78 mumol/mL; 26.79, 27.36 x 10(9)/mL; 21.72, 21.36%; and 13.90, 7.80 x 10(3)/mL for the MOL and CSB diets, respectively. Ruminal measurements did not differ. Blood electrolyte profiles were not altered. Trial 2 was similar to Trial 1 except the basal diet used was 47% barley grain, 35% alfalfa hay, and 10% barley straw. Either MOL or CSB was added at 7.3% of the DM. Digestibilities of DM, ADF, NDF, and CP were 69.52, 71.33; 35.96, 37.11; 27.93, 33.47; and 71.10, 73.66% for the MOL and CSB diets, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Feed↗