TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparisons of ruminal fermentation characteristics and microbial populations in bison and cattlet
AU - Towne, Gene
AU - Nagaraja, T. G.
AU - Cochran, R. C.
AU - Harmon, D. L.
AU - Owensby, C. E.
AU - Kaufman, D. W.
PY - 1988
Y1 - 1988
N2 - Ruminal microbial populations, fermentation characteristics, digestibility, and liquid flow rates in two ruminally cannulated bison and two ruminally cannulated Hereford steers fed a prairie hay diet were compared. No significant differences in anaerobic bacterial counts, volatile fatty acid concentrations, or ruminal pHs were evident between bison and cattle. Also, no significant differences in neutral detergent fiber digestibility, indigestible fiber retention time, or intake were detected between bison and cattle, although cattle had higher levels (P < 0.08) of ruminal dry matter and indigestible fiber than bison. Bison had a smaller (P = 0.02) ruminoreticular volume, faster liquid dilution rates, and faster liquid turnover times than cattle. The average ruminal ammonia nitrogen concentration was higher (P = 0.02) in bison (1.17 mg/dl) than in cattle (0.79 mg/dl). Total ciliate protozoal counts and cell volume were greater (P = 0.07) in bison (32.8 x 104/g and 407.1 × 10-4ml/g, respectively) than in cattle (15.7 × 104/g and 162.2 × 10-4 ml/g, respectively). Bison harbored higher (P < 0.02) numbers of Dasytricha spp., Eudiplodinium maggii, Eudiplodinium bursa, and Epidinium spp. than cattle and possessed a type B protozoan population. The cattle possessed a mixed type A-type B population that was characterized by Ophryoscolex spp. and Polyplastron spp. in association with low concentrations of Epidinium spp. and Eudiplodinium maggii.
AB - Ruminal microbial populations, fermentation characteristics, digestibility, and liquid flow rates in two ruminally cannulated bison and two ruminally cannulated Hereford steers fed a prairie hay diet were compared. No significant differences in anaerobic bacterial counts, volatile fatty acid concentrations, or ruminal pHs were evident between bison and cattle. Also, no significant differences in neutral detergent fiber digestibility, indigestible fiber retention time, or intake were detected between bison and cattle, although cattle had higher levels (P < 0.08) of ruminal dry matter and indigestible fiber than bison. Bison had a smaller (P = 0.02) ruminoreticular volume, faster liquid dilution rates, and faster liquid turnover times than cattle. The average ruminal ammonia nitrogen concentration was higher (P = 0.02) in bison (1.17 mg/dl) than in cattle (0.79 mg/dl). Total ciliate protozoal counts and cell volume were greater (P = 0.07) in bison (32.8 x 104/g and 407.1 × 10-4ml/g, respectively) than in cattle (15.7 × 104/g and 162.2 × 10-4 ml/g, respectively). Bison harbored higher (P < 0.02) numbers of Dasytricha spp., Eudiplodinium maggii, Eudiplodinium bursa, and Epidinium spp. than cattle and possessed a type B protozoan population. The cattle possessed a mixed type A-type B population that was characterized by Ophryoscolex spp. and Polyplastron spp. in association with low concentrations of Epidinium spp. and Eudiplodinium maggii.
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U2 - 10.1128/aem.54.10.2510-2514.1988
DO - 10.1128/aem.54.10.2510-2514.1988
M3 - Article
C2 - 3272131
AN - SCOPUS:0024100144
SN - 0099-2240
VL - 54
SP - 2510
EP - 2514
JO - Applied and Environmental Microbiology
JF - Applied and Environmental Microbiology
IS - 10
ER -